Kamala Harris' presidential campaign has kicked off with a bang, as mainstream media analysts on CNN and MSNBC showered her speech with praise and hailed it as a "perfect reintroduction" to the country.
Vice President Kamala Harris officially announced her bid for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination on Monday, and her campaign speech generated an immediate wave of enthusiasm from pundits on left-leaning news networks.
CNN and MSNBC analysts hailed Harris' speech as a powerful and effective reintroduction to the country, praising her for attacking former President Trump and for her confident and engaging demeanor.
Kamala Harris' Presidential Campaign Ignites Mainstream Media Frenzy
"There was a twinkle in her eye. There was a kick in her step that, you know, when you’re vice president…you’re not loose. There’s somebody above you, somebody you don’t want to overshadow them. And this was quite the coming out. I got chills when she said, ‘Donald Trump: I know your type.’ That was like, ‘Wow, she’s going to prosecute this case,’" MSNBC pundit Donny Deutsch exulted.
Deutsch continued, "And I was blown away. I was, like, I kind of fell in love with her. I thought she was smart, engaging. She’s funny, feisty, twinkle in your eye, punch you in the gut. I mean, everything you kind of want. And I just thought it was a great, great opening act."
Kamala Harris' Presidential Campaign Ignites Mainstream Media Frenzy
Other MSNBC guests echoed Deutsch's enthusiasm, with "The Bulwark" podcast host Tim Miller exclaiming, "Bear with me, I’m jumping out of my seat over here watching this. People have been thirsting for this."
Media pundits also praised Harris for her relationship with President Biden, who called into the headquarters and publicly spoke in support of her candidacy.
Kamala Harris' Presidential Campaign Ignites Mainstream Media Frenzy
"These aren’t people who just show up for the public to put on a show. This is what you see behind closed doors. This is not just graciousness for political expediency. This is graciousness because grace is something that matters deeply to these two leaders," Wiley said.
On CNN, more pundits celebrated the speech as a direct attack and threat against Trump.
Kamala Harris' Presidential Campaign Ignites Mainstream Media Frenzy
"What struck me most was that is fighting Kamala Harris. She is coming out, guns blazing," CNN correspondent Jamie Gangel remarked.
"If I were sitting in the Trump headquarters and I watched that speech, I‘d be very, very concerned. Kamala Harris gave what was, I thought, a perfectly conceived and well-delivered kind of introduction to the country, introduction, reintroduction of herself, not as a vice president, but as a standard-bearer," former Obama adviser David Axelrod said.
He continued, "She looked completely comfortable tonight with the words she was speaking. They felt organic and genuine. I think every Democrat should be heartened by that speech. I think that if I‘m the Trump campaign, I think the message was very clear. The game is on here, and it‘s not going to be easy."
Harris' speech was widely seen as a strong start to her presidential campaign, and it has undoubtedly energized the Democratic base. The coming months will reveal whether she can maintain this momentum and emerge as the Democratic nominee.
