Newly released internal campaign memos, published in the upcoming book 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Left Lost America, reveal strategic guidance that former Vice President Kamala Harris chose not to follow during her 2024 presidential bid. The advisement came from Republican strategist Maria Comella—who had worked in Republican circles including Chris Christie’s campaign—and was aimed at improving Harris’s appeal to a broader voter base.
Key recommendations included engaging “soft” Republican and independent voters. Comella urged Harris to criticize her own party’s weak stance on public safety and to create clear distinctions between herself and President Biden on issues like border control, inflation, pandemic response, crime, and climate policy. She emphasized that admitting past party mistakes could build trust with moderate voters .
Another significant memo encouraged Harris to appear on influential media platforms like Joe Rogan’s popular podcast to demonstrate authenticity and to differentiate herself stylistically from former President Trump—who appeared on Rogan in October 2024. Campaign documents also cautioned against centering her closing argument on January 6, advising her to avoid making it the primary theme of her final speech on the Ellipse.
Instead, Harris addressed the Capitol riot by directly blaming Trump, a move campaign strategists believed ignored the counsel to underscore broader policy positions and voter concerns .
These decisions reflect a broader criticism from Comella: Harris failed to provide voters with a compelling reason to choose her over Trump. The memos urged her to lead with bold messaging and cross-party engagement, rather than relying on traditional Democratic talking points. Yet, Harris pursued a markedly different path.
