PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WHTM) – There’s a lot of soul-searching in the Democratic Party after a red wave election. There’s also an intra-party food fight in Philadelphia, the biggest city in the most important battleground state.
The Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign began with much promise in Philadelphia this summer but by fall, it fizzled in Philly.
“The border and economic anxiety were two things that Democrats knew were a problem two years ago and they did nothing to address either of them,” says Democratic strategist Mike Manzo.
His advice to the party is to not overreact.
“Democrats have a tendency to overreact, to burn the house down,” Manzo said. “But it’s, you know, step back, hone your message a bit.”
The house is ablaze in Philly after Harris got approximately 45,000 fewer votes than Joe Biden did four years ago.
“I would like to have, you know, a little bit better, better cooperation,” expressed Bob Brady, the longtime chairman of the Democratic Party of Philadelphia.
He’s been an ambassador to presidents past and present, from having cheesesteaks with Bill Clinton to welcoming Joe Biden on the tarmac in Philadelphia.
“We tried to get cooperation as best as we can but it just didn’t happen, you know, and that’s a shame,” Brady said.
The Harris campaign bristled at the suggestion, saying Brady wanted cash more than cooperation.
“…Chairman Brady’s decades-long practice of fleecing campaigns for money to make up for his own lack of fundraising ability or leadership is a worthless endeavor that no future campaign should ever be forced to entertain again,” said Brendan McPhillips, a senior advisor to the Harris campaign.
Brady responded, saying, “Yes, that’s totally ridiculous.”
There have been calls for Brady to step aside following disastrous election results in Philadelphia.
“They’ve been saying that for years,” Brady said. “They don’t like me and I’m not that fond of them.”
Brady adviser Gianni Hill crunched the numbers and says New York, Miami, Detroit and Chicago bled Democratic votes more than Philadelphia, and that other candidates had something to do with it.
In coming years, the parties and the names may change. What won’t change? Experts say Pennsylvania will continue to be a very important battleground state.
