Kamala Harris and the memes that could win her the White House

It's been over a week since President Joe Biden announced his decision to end his 2024 presidential campaign. I was relieved. There's no love lost between Biden and myself. Biden's administration has been a total failure. I'm sorry if that offends you, but just look at the facts. Biden's continued support for Israel is unforgivable on its own but he has done little to protect our most vulnerable citizens here on American soil. Not only that but his 2024 campaign was a disaster, first with his shockingly terrible public appearances and then his stubborn refusal to step aside. Bro, just go retire and live your life in peace.

But with Kamala Harris stepping in as the presumed Democratic candidate (she'll be officially named the nominee at the DNC in a few weeks), there was a wave of excitement, hope, and drive. Harris is not a perfect candidate, but she's more inspiring than any other household name of the Democratic party. She'll have a lot to answer for, but at least she is taking a more forceful approach to the Gaza conflict than our current President could ever dream of. Harris' past career as a prosecutor has also raised some eyebrows, and her unsuccessful 2020 campaign is surely to bring doubts to some Democratic voters.

But this is a media and marketing newsletter, and so let's put the politics away for a moment

Ever since she announced her candidacy for the 2024 Presidential election, my TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter feeds have been full of Kamala Harris memes. Harris' "coconut tree" line is legit iconic, and she is fully on board for Charli XCX's BRAT summer. Harris' first ad featured Beyonce's stirring "Freedom" from the acclaimed Lemonade album, a terrific choice both musically and politically. I've been seeing countless joke tweets about her promising to add various things to her agenda. I don't remember this much social media engagement on the Democratic side since the 2008 Obama campaign. But even that, if memory recalls, was more focused on hope and change. For now, Harris' social media impact has been more focused on humor and memes, though her first ad was extremely effective.

Harris' presence as Vice President was interesting. She kind of came off as aloof or distant, kind of like a bizarre but still cool aunt. She has such a distinctive style of speaking, and her unique cultural background separates her from the countless white men who are in office. Harris stands out from Hillary Clinton, who tried really hard to be cool (Pokemon GO to the polls, remember!). But Harris is just so naturally offbeat and kooky, and the way she embraces social media is admirable. Republicans are trying to make her laugh into a liability, but like do they not know that we love her laugh and how strange it is? And is this really the best they can do to drag her?

Much to her credit, Harris (and her expert social media team) have managed not to go over what I call the Jeff Goldblum Line of leaning into the meme so hard that it becomes off-putting and desperate. These memes feel very organic, and her social media is handling it with aplomb. I also think we're in a new era for social media memes, which have more reach than ever before, so it's perfect timing to have someone so BRAT at the center of them.

It's also exceptionally shrewd that Harris' is responding to her social media stardom, because it sets her up for success for the rest of her campaign. We're already excited about her candidacy, entertained by her media presence, and enthusiastic about having someone so intelligent, weird, funny, and experienced on the national stage. I personally am on the edge of my seat to watch her take down Donald Trump on the debate stage and to see the memes afterwards.

One of the major benefits that Harris has is that the tide had turned against automatic respectability. Both Obama and Clinton in their campaigns had to "be the bigger person" in an attempt to appeal to an overarching sense of morality and goodness. When they go low, we go high and all that. At the time, that mantra made sense. Unfortunately, however, that mantra did little to eradicate the underlying hatred and bigotry that bubbled up to the surface during the Trump and Biden eras. The Harris campaign doesn't have to play the moral police anymore. The Trump campaign has become exponentially weirder and more dangerous with the addition of JD Vance (the king of couches). And someone like Kamala Harris can give them the response they deserve.

I am really excited about a Kamala Harris presidential campaign and (please God) a Kamala Harris administration. Maybe it's because I am watching Designated Survivor on Netflix that I am so president-pilled. But I also think it's really amazing that we have someone so effortlessly meme-able at the forefront of this election season. I don't mean to discount Kamala Harris' merits or flaws as a politician. I am excited to see how she shapes her agenda, and what I will agree or disagree with. And once she is in the White House, then as citizens we can hold her accountable.

But look if white men can talk about what politicians they want to have a beer with, then I can talk about what politicians I want to scroll Instagram with. And that, my fellow Americans, is Kamala Harris.