Kamala Harris, a former presidential candidate who lost to Donald Trump despite having the backing of the Democratic party and the media, is reportedly planning a political revival.
Her recent attempt to discuss the Los Angeles riots with Gavin Newsom, however, did not go as smoothly as she might have hoped.
Harris, who is believed to be considering a run for governor in California, saw the riots as an opportunity to engage with her voter base, which includes both illegal immigrants being deported by ICE and the protesters causing chaos in the streets.
According to RedState, Harris was "glued to local TV news and doom-scrolling" before deciding to reach out to Newsom.
"Unlike most in the city, shes also been making calls to her mayor, Karen Bass, and Gov. Gavin Newsom," reported Politico, quoting a source close to the former Vice President. However, her attempt to connect with Newsom was unsuccessful, and she was forced to leave him a voicemail expressing her support.
The fact that Harris was unable to reach Newsom is a telling sign of her political standing among her Democratic colleagues. The Politico report did not specify when Harris made the call, but it was published two days ago and there have been no updates indicating that Newsom returned the call. This suggests that the governor is deliberately distancing himself from Harris, perhaps due to the potential political fallout.
Newsom, who is expected to run for president in 2028, has been vocal in his support for the riots and has accused President Trump of being the problem. Any public association with Harris could be used against him by the GOP in future campaigns.
Sarah Arnold, a writer for Townhall, noted that it's unclear whether Newsom even took Harris's call. Despite her desire to voice her opinions, it seems that few are interested in hearing them. "Harris hesitated over whether to speak out about the riots unfolding in her own backyard, worried that doing so might sway voters," Arnold wrote. "In the end, she chose to weigh inonly to criticize President Trump for deploying the military in response."
Harris's comments were met with criticism from Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who called them an "embarrassment." He defended President Trump, stating, "He's not out there lighting cars on fire, hurling projectiles at law enforcement, or blocking freeways. This statement is an embarrassment and does nothing to diffuse the violent riots taking place across the city." He further blamed the Democrats for the ongoing unrest.
Harris also attempted to voice her outrage over an incident involving Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), who was forcibly removed by officers after trying to interrupt a briefing by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief Kristi Noem. Harris described the incident as "a shameful and stunning abuse of power."
As Harris continues to navigate the political landscape, it remains to be seen whether her efforts to reestablish herself will be successful. Her inability to connect with key figures like Newsom, coupled with the criticism she has received for her comments on the riots, suggest that she may face significant challenges in her quest for political redemption.
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