The enthusiasm seen in the Democratic Party in recent weeks did not subside at this week’s caucus, on the contrary.
This is what the CEO of Nordic West Office, a think tank and consulting agency, estimates for Yelle Risto EJ Penttilä.
Democratic presidential candidate Horrible Harris According to Penttilä, the campaign speech last night Finnish time was excellent.
– Harris and the Democrats succeeded very well. This week I think that Harris will win the election, says Penttilä.
In his 40-minute speech, Harris focused on who he is and what he plans to do.
In addition to domestic politics, he also talked about his commitment to the military alliance NATO.
– The speech emphasized many general principles and supports, such as supporting the middle class, Israel and allies, says Penttilä.
You can win by talking to the middle class
Risto EJ Penttilä says that he wondered why Harris’ speeches were initially very left-wing.
– The themes were price regulation, raising business taxes and property tax; anything that tickles the left wing of the Democrats.
Penttilä believes that the support was first directed to the left wing, and now Harris’s speech wanted to be mainstream and very middle-class.
– You can win with the content of this speech, it contained key issues, such as strengthening the middle class, support for Israel and Ukraine, and US leadership, Penttilä says.
The line differences between the candidates are big
According to Penttilä, Harris and the Republican candidate With Donald Trump there are enough line differences. In economic policy, Trump wants to lower taxes and reduce regulation, while Harris wants to raise taxes and increase regulation.
– In foreign policy, Harris swears by traditional allies and the rules-based world order. For Trump, on the other hand, everything is an agreement and he values bilateral relations.
According to Penttilä, there are big differences in questions of value. Matters related to the right to abortion in particular divide the candidates.
– Trump is satisfied that each state decides on abortion separately. Harris would still like abortions to be decided at the federal level, says Penttilä.
Both candidates represent a slightly different Americanism.
– Harris can be said to represent the educated, left-leaning middle class and Trump the working, conservative Americans, Penttilä sums up.
Harris’ strengths and weaknesses
According to Penttilä, the charm of novelty and the fact that she knows how to speak to the middle class can be considered Kamala Harris’ strengths.
– Harris is fresh and refreshing and speaks in a new way. He’s like Barack Obamawhich entered the patterns as a new one and got a lift from it.
Harris’s weakness, Penttilä says, is unfamiliarity.
– Donald Trump is known to be unpredictable, but Harris is still quite unknown. We don’t really know what Harris would be like as a leader.
According to Penttilä, Harris is also inexperienced in foreign policy. He estimated that US adversaries such as China, Russia and Iran will test Harris if he wins.
– Opponents want to see how far they can go and whether America will react. In that sense, Harris can be considered weak.
There is a risk of waning enthusiasm
There is still a long way to go before the presidential elections in November. According to Penttilä, the risk of enthusiasm ending before the elections is obvious, but that risk must be taken.
According to him, the only way for the Democrats to win is to maintain the current enthusiasm.
– The unknown Harris can win the election only when he gets people moving. The momentum must now be continued, Penttilä estimates.
Penttilä underlines that a possible presidency would also be an opportunity for Harris, who ended up as a candidate in an exceptional way. He gives an example from Finland.
– We have had accidental prime ministers Matti Vanhanen, Alexander Stubb and Sanna Marin – and everyone has coped excellently in their work, says Penttilä.