Democratic strategist James Carville delivered a sobering message to his party on Monday, urging caution in the face of recent positive polling for Vice President Kamala Harris. Speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Carville reminded Democrats that President Donald Trump has a proven track record of outperforming his polling averages, warning that this factor should not be underestimated as the 2024 election nears.
Carville highlighted that while Harris holds a slight edge in national polls, the race remains extremely close in key battleground states, where Trump leads by a slim margin. He emphasized that Harris would need to win by nearly three percentage points in the popular vote to secure the Electoral College, underscoring the steep challenge she faces.
Carville pointed out that in both 2016 and 2020, Trump performed better than expected in swing states, cautioning Democrats against being overly optimistic. “I’m glad that people are feeling better… but anybody that looks at this with any sense of history, any sense of objectivity, sees that there’s plenty possible pitfalls,” he said.
Carville’s warning comes as some Democrats, including CNN’s Van Jones, express concern over the tight race despite Harris receiving weeks of positive media coverage. Jones noted that the campaign’s goal should be to pull ahead, not remain in a deadlock.
Carville’s remarks serve as a reminder that while Harris’s campaign has seen some gains, the unpredictable nature of Trump’s support and his ability to rally voters make him a formidable challenger.
