Analysis of the US election results: 5 factors that led to Kamala Harris' loss

Donald Trump secured victory in the 2024 US presidential election on Wednesday. With a historic victory in key battleground states, the Republican nominee has paved the way for his triumphant return to the White House. In the days leading up to Election Day, Democratic supporters showed confidence that they could hold their ground in swing states, but faced sheer disappointment when the former president plunged them into the red. Although polls and early voting numbers suggested a close fight, Trump won in a landslide. When the Associated Press finally announced his victory, one can't help but wonder: Where did it all go wrong for Harris? Here are five factors that may have contributed greatly to their loss.

She was unable to prove her achievements

Throughout her campaign, which began after Joe Biden left office in late July, Harris placed more emphasis on proving why Trump was the wrong choice than on presenting herself as a worthy candidate. While Democrats actively compared the former prime minister to Adolf Hitler and called him a “fascist,” they failed to highlight Harris' accomplishments. Her glitzy rallies relied more on celebrity appearances than Harris herself.

Recently, conservative activist Charlie Kirk confused a Democratic supporter after asking him to name one of Harris's accomplishments. “Just tell me what Kamala Harris' greatest accomplishment is,” Kirk asked a student in the now-viral TikTok video. Although he vouched for the vice president, the student stumbled as he replied, “The greatest achievement… oh, I can't say that for sure….” it's kind of…”

Considered weak by many

Dodging questions, trying out “word salad” and avoiding interviews have been a constant in Harris' 2024 presidential bid. The vice president's inability to lay out detailed plans for her future policies and explain how a Harris presidency will differ from the Biden one government would make a difference, defeating its case before the voters.

Her Republican rival Trump repeatedly called her “weak” and “incompetent,” further forcing voters to consider what Harris would bring as president. In the days leading up to Election Day, the New York Post claimed in an opinion piece that Harris's “greatest enemy is herself,” adding that “her greatest weakness is her inability to communicate sincerity to the public in her messages.”

Joe Biden's shady legacy

Unlike Trump, the Democratic nominee had a rocky start to her campaign as she built her entire candidacy on what was left after Biden's highly anticipated exit from the race. Back in July, after his first presidential debate debacle, Biden finally conceded (Read more: Biden admits Democrats pressured him to drop out of presidential race). With the Democrats' public image already facing decline, Harris had no choice but to build her argument on Biden's shady legacy, marred by on-air gaffes and shaky public speeches.

Illegal immigration

One of the most important issues in the 2024 race was the debate over illegal immigration. The Democratic candidate and the Republican candidate, now the president-elect, constantly argued about the situation of migrants in the country. On the one hand, Harris criticized Trump's “mass deportation strategy”; The latter accused the Biden-Harris administration of allowing illegal immigrants to freely enter the United States.

In his final speech before Election Day, Trump's Vice President JD Vance criticized Harris for prioritizing illegals over real American citizens. “The number of criminal migrants we have in this country is more than twice the number of the United States Marine Corps, thanks to Kamala Harris’ failed border policies,” the vice president-elect said. (Read more: JD Vance brutally attacks Kamala Harris during Arizona rally: 'You're fired!')

High inflation

Although inflation fell sharply in America this year, it remained one of the main issues in the election. According to a recent Reuters report, the “inflation shock of 2022” was one of the key topics of discussion in the presidential campaign. Although Harris promised to address problems such as “price gouging” and rising real estate prices, Trump had an advantage with voters.

According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, 68% of respondents in seven swing states said the cost of living was “on the wrong track,” and 61% said the same about the economy, the source said. Meanwhile, half of them said Trump has “a better plan, policy or approach” to managing the economy, compared to 37% for Harris. Meanwhile, Trump was favored on inflation 47% to 34%.