In the short time since Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, something surprising has happened. Kamala Harris seems more fun, more stable and (dare I say) less cringey than she has for the past three or four years.
This change is evident in her speeches, demeanor, her fundraising prowess (a proxy for excitement) and her online meme game — TikTok videos of her dancing, etc.
On one hand, this transformation shouldn’t surprise us; Harris was once seen as a talented rising star in the Democratic Party. But since her failed 2020 primary bid — and despite ascending to the level of vice president — she has become something of a cringy punchline, with some comparing her to Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s hapless character in “Veep.”
As one conservative wag put it, “She comes across as dad’s new girlfriend trying hard to be cool to the teenagers. It’s awkward every time.”
But suddenly, she doesn’t look so awkward. In fact, she presents a charming and youthful contrast when compared with Biden and Donald Trump.
To be sure, likability and authenticity are difficult to quantify; but, like pornography, you know it when you see it. And — for now, at least — I’m seeing it.
Time will tell if others see this, too, but Trump’s pollster is already setting........