Hurricane Milton tore via the west coast of Florida, ripping the roof off Tropicana Discipline — and doing critical harm to the floundering Kamala Harris marketing campaign.
Along with her gale pressure winds of desperation, the veep has tried so exhausting to look presidential by inserting herself into the storm effort this week.
However she’s come throughout like a celebration crasher attempting to get into the VIP part of an A-list soiree. A political interloper. A ineffective limb.
Or, as Florida governor Ron DeSantis stated extra bluntly this morning on “Squawk Field”: “She has no position on this course of.”
Nonetheless, Harris labored the telephones as Milton blew in, calling in to the Climate Channel and CNN to blast Donald Trump and DeSantis for politicizing the disasters. Oh, the hypocrisy.
Final evening she posted to her VP account on X a video dialog with St. Petersburg, Fla., mayor Ken Welch — a shamelessly clear marketing campaign advert that had all of the authenticity of a Canal Avenue Gucci belt.
“Thanks for simply answering the decision to guide in the way in which that you’ve in a time of disaster,” Harris stated. “Of us are wanting in your eyes to see one thing in you that lets them know that all the things goes to be OK.”
Welch, who had lots on his plate, clearly tossed her marketing campaign a bone as he stated he appreciated “her partnership.”
Sounding like a disinterested customer support agent studying a script, a performative Harris supplied Welch this inanity as his metropolis was threatened by 100-mph winds and greater than 18 inches of rain: “Know that you’re invited to present any suggestions about what you may want in actual time since you’re the management on the bottom, so you realize what your of us want.”
Profound.
This Harris clean-up effort all kicked off Monday, when it was reported that DeSantis, who was coping with each the aftermath of Helene and the incoming Milton, ignored her name.
Requested immediately concerning the reported snub, Harris dug in.
“Taking part in political video games at this second in these disaster conditions — these are the peak of emergency conditions — is simply totally irresponsible and it’s egocentric, and it’s about political gamesmanship,” stated the candidate, who was already going through backlash for lastly breaking her media quick and touring to New York as components of the nation had been battered and with out energy.
An exasperated DeSantis, who has a confirmed popularity for stellar hurricane preparedness and restoration, stated he had no clue the VP even known as.
“I’ve been coping with these storms in Florida underneath each Trump and Biden. Neither of them ever politicized it,” he advised CNBC.
On “The View,” the “brat” candidate doubled down, saying that she spoke to governors from each events and “Clearly this isn’t a difficulty that’s about partisanship or politics for sure leaders, however possibly is for others.”
Then she known as CNN and accused Trump of spreading “disinformation” about FEMA within the aftermath of town-destroying Hurricane Helene.
“Everyone knows it’s harmful, and the gamesmanship has to cease. Sooner or later the politics has to finish, particularly in a second of disaster,” Harris advised Dana Bash.
It’s like she’s been unburdened of her self-awareness.
On to the Climate Channel, the place Harris spoke with meteorologist Mike Bettes who requested her about DeSantis. Harris stated it wasn’t a time to level fingers, then did simply that.
“Anyone who considers themselves to be a frontrunner ought to actually be within the enterprise proper now of giving individuals a way of confidence that we’re all working collectively and that now we have the sources and the power to work collectively on their behalf,” she stated.
The community famous that Trump had additionally been supplied an interview however didn’t reply. (Eric Trump tweeted that his household housed over 275 energy linemen at their Trump Doral property in Miami, so maybe there have been different duties at hand.)
Much more jarring, Joe Biden appears to gleefully be leaving Harris out within the chilly — reiterating how DeSantis was “cooperative” and “doing an important job.” Is that this a part of bitter Biden’s revenge since being shivved within the again by his occasion?
When a reporter requested the president if DeSantis ought to take Harris’ name, Biden dodged the query.
“All I can let you know is I’ve talked to Gov. DeSantis. He’s been very gracious. He’s thanked me for all we’ve completed. He is aware of what we’re doing. And I believe that’s vital.”
Ouch.
However Harris is correct. A pure catastrophe is concerning the security of People — and never a time to wade into politics. It’s a disgrace she spent the previous few days doing it.
Supply hyperlink