The Kamala Harris campaign continues to face challenges as a series of missteps has raised questions about the campaign’s organization and effectiveness.

Vice President Kamala Harris wave to the crowd with Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at a rally on Tuesday August 20, 2024 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis.

Earlier this week, Kamala Harris attempted to criticize Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, claiming he was ignoring federal assistance for Hurricane Milton.

However, Joe Biden later contradicted her, praising DeSantis for his cooperation in hurricane response efforts.

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This incident highlighted a growing issue within the Harris campaign: a failure to align messaging before pushing out narratives.

A more recent blunder occurred during a campaign stop at Otro Cafe in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff visited the coffee shop to stage a photo-op, intended to show their connection to working-class voters.

Hope Walz (center) leads the discussions on ordering with second gentleman Doug Emhoff (from left), Cole Emhoff, Greenley Littlejohn and Gov. Tim Walz while at Otro Cafe in Phoenix prior to an event in Chandler on Oct. 9, 2024.

However, the event took an awkward turn when both Walz and Emhoff grabbed their coffees and left without paying.

Video footage of the incident shows Walz’s daughter assuring the cashier that someone would eventually come back to cover the bill.

The mishap drew criticism, not just for the oversight but for what it symbolized—a disconnect from the everyday experiences of the middle-class Americans the campaign is trying to court.

For many, it raised the question: How can candidates relate to working people if they can’t even navigate a simple coffee purchase?

Critics have pointed out that campaign stops like this are intended to highlight candidates interacting with workers and leaving generous tips, not simply posing for cameras and walking away.

While it’s likely that a handler eventually settled the bill, the larger issue is that this kind of error reflects a broader problem within the Harris campaign: a lack of execution on even the most basic strategies.

This coffee shop incident comes on the heels of Harris’s recent media appearances, which have also faced backlash.

Harris’s interviews with Call Her Daddy podcast host Alex Cooper, The View, Howard Stern, and Stephen Colbert, have been described as poorly planned and out of touch with the wider audience Harris needs to reach.

During these interviews, Harris struggled to address key questions and appeared unprepared.

While the intention may have been to connect with left-leaning platforms, critics argue that Harris missed an opportunity to appeal to a broader, more diverse electorate—particularly as polls tighten in swing states where Trump has now pulled ahead.

The Harris campaign’s recent efforts seem to reflect a shift in strategy. Early on, the vice president largely stuck to scripted, controlled public appearances.

However, as the race becomes more competitive, with Trump gaining momentum in critical battlegrounds, Harris’s campaign has become more reactive.

This has led to what some describe as a string of errors that could damage her prospects as the election nears.

Walz and Emhoff’s recent appearances together also raised eyebrows.

The strategy of having them campaign as a pair seems designed to appeal to male voters, but some analysts are skeptical that this tactic will work.

Emhoff, who has faced allegations in the past, and Walz, whose casual demeanor contrasts with more traditional political posturing, have yet to resonate with the working-class voters that Democrats need to win over.

As the Harris campaign faces increasing pressure, many are calling for a return to a more controlled approach—one that minimizes risk and keeps Kamala on message.

Whether the campaign can recover from these recent stumbles remains to be seen, but with Election Day fast approaching, the clock is ticking for Harris to course correct and regain ground.

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