Barton Swaim wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal titled "Can Trump Beat Harris Using 'Common Sense?'" Swaim noted that Democratic politicians and experts reacted with joy, almost euphoria, to news that Vice President Kamala Harris is likely to replace President Biden in the November election. He pointed out that Democrats are energized ahead of their convention in August, yet the wiser power brokers in the party will awaken when they realize they have chosen a progressive from the West Coast with minimal political skill to defend Biden's record on issues such as inflation, border policy, student debt cancellation, and the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Swaim mentioned that a political action committee affiliated with Trump has already issued a statement indicating that Harris pretended Biden was mentally and physically fit until he withdrew from the race. He expects more materials on Harris's work as District Attorney of San Francisco and Attorney General of California, her tendency to speak in incomprehensible sentences, and her neglect of the border crisis for which the White House bears responsibility.
In contrast, the author believes that Trump's statements at campaign rallies—both scripted and unscripted—have begun to contain political logic, noting that Trump has deprived the Democratic campaign of what was supposed to be its main theme under Biden: that Trump "poses a threat to democracy." According to the author, Trump's popularity among low- and middle-income Americans is largely a result of progressive insanity, highlighting that Trump briefly ran for president in 2000 unsuccessfully, hinted at running in 2011 without success, and only in 2016, when modern liberalism escalated into what we now call "woke" ideologies—obsession with racial and gender identity, hatred of America and the West, and disdain for law enforcement—did Trump's candidacy ignite enthusiasm among wage workers and small business owners.
He added that Trump's popularity serves as a measure of the dissatisfaction of the middle and working-class with the delusions and distortions of non-liberal progressive elites, which is why, according to the author, his poll numbers rise—something he likes to remind audiences—every time he faces accusations.
The author concludes his article by stating that leftist officials claim to hate Donald Trump more than anything else, and to stop his rise, all they need to do is moderate their stance or practice a bit of common sense.
