Opinion by The Floridian's Jackson Bakich
President-elect Donald Trump (R) completed one of, if not the greatest, political comebacks in history this election cycle. His opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris (D), dealt with unique circumstances that put her at an immediate disadvantage. However, she made a critical mistake at the very end of her campaign relating to the Joe Rogan podcast debacle.
I’m going to break it down with a sports lens. It was a coaching blunder in both scheme and philosophy.
Anyone can share their rationale as to why somebody or some group failed in their mission after the conclusion of their endeavor. “Monday morning quarterbacking” is the term in the sports world.
President Teddy Roosevelt pointed this out in his famous “Man in the Arena” passage. It’s easy to criticize the athletes from the outside or in the stands. Also, a lot of times, said rationales don’t provide the proper context for defeat in its entirety.
That’s why my analysis of her decision not to go on the Joe Rogan podcast is not the sole reason she lost the election. It may have been a small reason, but it is a reason, nonetheless.
Most importantly, I believe it was the wrong decision then, and it’s the wrong decision now.
Report: Harris Internal Polling Was Poor
The Joe Rogan Experience is by far the biggest podcast in the world, with tens of millions of listeners. It’s listed as the number one program in almost every podcast popularity list. Its cultural relevance is unlike any other.
If recent reports are correct and the Harris campaign’s internal polling showed that she never had a lead over Trump, then not going on the show simply doesn’t make any sense.
It defies any competitive logic that certainly makes sense in the sports world.
The 4th and 1 Metaphor
Let’s say you’re the coach of a football team (or, in this case, a campaign manager). You’re down three points with two minutes left on the clock and no timeouts. You’re on your opponent’s 40-yard line faced with a 4th and 1. Overtime isn’t an option in this scenario.
The safe play (not going on Joe Rogan) – as public speaking was certainly not VP Harris’ strong suit – would be to kick the field goal. From the 40-yard line, there isn’t a great chance you make the field goal, but it gives you and your team the best chance not to lose.
The obvious reality is that going on Rogan gives you the best chance to win.
Why? Well, from a schematic, political standpoint, Trump had already appeared on the podcast. He proved he could withstand three hours of non-scripted conversation. Remember, Rogan himself stated that he offered Harris to come on the show but she turned it down. She wanted Rogan to come to her and for it to only last an hour.
Moving the goalposts is not a good look.
With this metaphor, going for it on 4th and 1 is the right move philosophically, too.
Why? Well, if you can’t advance the ball one yard, then you don’t deserve to win the ball game. If you can’t go on a podcast and have a conversation with someone for a few hours (which normal people do every day), then you don’t deserve to win the ball game. If you can’t use the three hours allotted to you and share your vision for America as the next leader of the Free World, then you don’t deserve to win the ball game.
This was a coaching blunder. A political miscalculation. It’s as simple as that.
Was Failing To Appear On Joe Rogan A Nail In The Coffin For Harris?
Once again, this wasn’t the sole reason Harris lost every single battleground state. It’s possible that a solid appearance on Rogan wouldn’t have moved the needle at all.
She was dealt a raw deal. The short end of the stick. A six versus an ace.
Having just 107 days to run was a significant disadvantage to Harris. Coupling the short amount of time with the failure to distance herself from the unpopular incumbent, Joe Biden, made it nearly an impossible feat to begin with.
However, the decision not to go on Rogan needs to be remembered by future political candidates and their campaigns. Not because it was some monumental nail in the coffin but because it lacks the combination of both humility and boldness necessary to be a competitor in the final moments:
If my team cannot prevail when it matters most, then we don’t deserve to win. If my team can’t gain a yard when it matters most, then we don’t deserve to win.
It’s as simple as that.
