During an appearance on MSNBC on Sunday morning, longtime Democratic campaign strategist James Carville expressed delight over the struggles faced by Donald Trump’s re-election campaign. Carville attributed much of the campaign’s turmoil to the selection of Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and the subsequent entry of Vice President Kamala Harris into the presidential race.
According to Carville, Vance’s transition from a relatively unknown figure to a widely criticized GOP lawmaker with negative approval ratings stemmed from his controversial comments about childless women and their societal roles. However, Carville pointed out that Vance is not the sole issue plaguing Trump’s campaign.
“The J.D. Vance thing has hurt Trump, and Trump knows it. He’s a hit dog and he’s barking. In rural America, it’s the hit dog that barks and he’s barking. This Vance thing has blown up in his face,” Carville told the MSNBC host.
When prompted by the host about how the ongoing exposure of Trump’s erratic behavior could benefit Harris, Carville responded, “We’ve talked in the past just about how the more people see Trump’s crazy, the better it is. People are also trying to get to know Harris at the same time. There are a lot of good moments for Harris coming up. A VP pick, campaigning with that, the convention. How do they keep the pressure on and attention on Trump’s crazy?”
Carville continued by expressing skepticism about Trump’s ability to maintain a stable campaign. “I’m a bookmaker, I’m not going to dignify it with a first letter, but I think he is deteriorating at that rate and he is getting worse. I mean, he has always been terrible, and he’s going to do everything he can to keep himself front and center, you know?”
Reflecting on Vance’s controversial statements, Carville added, “I mean, I’m sure there’s no chance that Vance is going to stop saying stupid things — that part is coming our way. But he [Trump] is deteriorating and I don’t know how much worse he’s going to get between now and election day.”
Carville’s remarks underscore the challenges faced by the Trump campaign, particularly with the negative impact of Vance’s rhetoric and the increasing scrutiny of Trump’s conduct. The strategist’s analysis suggests that these factors could significantly hinder Trump’s re-election efforts while highlighting the potential advantages for Harris as she continues to gain visibility and support.