On Monday, Kamala Harris held a rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as part of a campaign push in the state ahead of Election Day. The rally was one of several stops she’s making across Pennsylvania, a critical battleground, as the Democrats aim to drive turnout in the region. But while the goal was to energize supporters, Harris’ attempt at leading the crowd in a chant fell flat, creating an awkward moment that’s now drawing attention online.
During her speech, Harris attempted to lead a “get out the vote” chant to fire up the crowd. She started with “Let’s vote!” but quickly pivoted to, “Let’s get out the vote! Let’s get out the vote!” The rapid switch seemed to confuse the audience, and instead of rallying the crowd, the chant fizzled out with no one joining in. The attempt at enthusiasm was met with silence, leaving Harris to awkwardly wrap it up with her signature laugh, a reaction that didn’t do much to save the moment.
Ouch!! Kamala just malfunctioned live on stage as she tries, and fails, to start a “Let’s get out the vote” chant. Her audience is visibly confused before she awkwardly ends it with “Let’s win.”
And Democrats wonder why they have an enthusiasm gap. pic.twitter.com/svc17KAFsc
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 4, 2024
Critics were quick to seize on the awkward chant as a sign of what they argue is Harris’ lack of natural leadership skills. Her inability to lead a crowd in a simple chant has fueled discussions on social media, with many calling it “cringe-worthy” and highlighting it as yet another instance where Harris seems to struggle to connect with voters.
This incident adds to the list of moments that have left some questioning her ability to rally support in key states. In a high-stakes election, the contrast between her style and the more direct, confident approaches of other candidates is hard to miss. Where strong leaders aim to inspire, this attempt only served to spotlight the disconnect Harris often faces with voters who are looking for direction and assurance in these final days before the election.
Pennsylvania remains a crucial state, and every vote will count. But rallies like this, where Harris appeared disconnected and unprepared, may not help the Democrats’ efforts to get out the vote. Her spontaneous laugh after the chant didn’t land either, coming across as awkward rather than endearing. Moments like these highlight the gap between the high energy expected in a tight race and what Harris seems to be delivering on the campaign trail. Whether she’ll adjust her approach remains to be seen, but in this case, the rally left more of an impression for its stumbles than its successes.