Time for Republicans to run as if they could lose

It’s Joever. The president of the United States has announced that he is out of the race and thrown his support behind “Coconut Tree” Kamala Harris. On its face, this may sound like good news for overly confident Republican strategists. Harris may not be fossilized, but she still shares responsibility for her administration’s failures. Polls show that she is roughly as popular as Biden. Still, in electoral politics, overconfidence is a vice: Republicans should start talking and acting as if they can lose. 

One of Trump’s greatest strengths is his ability to depict wins. “We’re gonna win so much that you are gonna get tired of winning,” he loves to tell his audience. Yet now the Grand Old Party could benefit from displaying some restraint, especially now that Democrats can add a veep into the mix that completely alters the dynamic.

A good start would be to stop boasting about the polls, inviting their voters to “fight! fight! fight!,” painting their opposition as rapacious. If Republicans should know anything, it is that polls are better treated as tools than as hard science. This time around, many are acting as if everything augurs a red wave. Yet not so long ago, they did the same and failed to take back the Senate in 2022. 

While enthusiasm is visibly up on the Republican side, it can always be higher. It is here where the power of fear cannot be dismissed. With a Democratic Party fixating on the dangers of a supposedly fascistic “Project 2025” presidency, Republicans should respond by drawing connections between Democratic leaders and radical fat-left groups. With Harris on the forefront, and possibly a more moderate-appearing vice presidential candidate at her side, running on competency will simply not do the trick. 

The election remains very winnable for Republicans. A call for showing greater worry should not be confused with an all-encompassing critique of what has been a masterfully executed campaign. Nonetheless, with this developing situation, Republicans would be better served by a flurry of negative ads and non-stop commentary over how Democratic elites have undemocratically kicked out Biden because they know he couldn’t win. It’s not enough for Republicans to love Trump and Vance. To win the election, Americans must fear Harris and her running mate as well.