Vice President Harris was unable to recover when her teleprompter went out at the beginning of a rally speech in Michigan on Friday.
“Remember his number, 32! Today we got 32 days until the election,” Harris said, deploying both her signature cackle and her mysterious urban accent that only seems to appear during certain rallies.
The Democratic Party nominee then displayed a brief look of horror after peering over at the teleprompter and finding out that it wasn’t working. She then appeared to be stuck on repeat, demonstrating a complete inability to improvise after the glitch.
“So 32 days… 32 days. Ok we got some business to do, we got some business to do. 32 days. And we know… we will do it,” Harris said after an awkward period of silence. “And, and this is going to be a very tight race until the very end. This is going to be a very tight race until the very end. And we are the underdog, and we know we have some hard work ahead.”
The clip soon went viral on social media, with many pundits arguing that Harris’ inability to improvise speaks to her qualifications.
“Look, I don’t care what your stance on @realDonaldTrump is—set that aside. Just look at Kamala Harris objectively. She’s wholly incompetent to be President,” gun rights activist Colion Noir wrote in an X post. “If you can’t handle a speech when the teleprompter goes down, you don’t have what it takes to lead the United States.”
“When the teleprompter goes out, Kamala Harris just keep repeating 32 days and 32 seconds feels like 32 days for everyone in attendance,” added conservative radio host Rich Zeoli.
The latest gaffe comes as Democratic Party strategists are becoming increasingly worried about the Harris-Walz Campaign’s unprecedented lack of media availability.
According to a report from Politico citing more than a dozen Democratic Party staffers — some of whom work on the Harris-Walz Campaign — the party is having flashbacks to 2016 as Trump is “everywhere” while Harris has only sat for a handful of friendly interviews.
“There’s a time at which you just have to barnstorm these battlegrounds,” said Democratic Party strategist David Axelrod, who played a key role in former President Barack Obama’s dominant victory in 2008. “These races are decathlons, and there are a lot of events, and you have to do all of them because people want to test you.”
“It’s the most difficult oral exam on the planet for the most difficult job, and part of that is just that spontaneous — town halls, all kinds of interviews, and not just friendly interviews. OTRs where you interact in a substantive way with people, all of those things are valuable,” he continued. “And I would be doing them if I were her.”
The incident at the Michigan rally has further fueled discussions about Vice President Harris’s public speaking abilities and her preparedness for the role of president. Critics argue that the teleprompter failure exposed her reliance on scripted messages, raising doubts about her ability to handle spontaneous or high-pressure situations. Her repeated use of the phrase “32 days” became a focal point on social media, with many suggesting it demonstrated a lack of preparedness.
Political opponents and commentators seized on the moment to criticize Harris, framing the mishap as a reflection of her overall competence. Conservative media outlets and commentators pointed out that the vice president has often been criticized for her public speaking style, which they argue lacks substance and clarity. Some even revived past instances where Harris struggled with speeches, using them to build a narrative that questions her leadership skills.
The Harris-Walz campaign, meanwhile, has remained tight-lipped about the incident, focusing instead on mobilizing support for key battleground states. However, the gaffe has added to existing concerns within the Democratic Party about the campaign’s overall strategy and visibility. According to insiders, there is increasing unease about the campaign’s limited media engagements and reluctance to participate in unscripted events, which some see as crucial for connecting with undecided voters.
Despite these criticisms, Harris’s supporters have come to her defense, arguing that teleprompter failures can happen to any candidate and do not necessarily reflect one’s qualifications or capability to lead. They highlighted the pressures of campaign events and emphasized the importance of focusing on the administration’s policy achievements rather than isolated moments on the campaign trail.
However, Democratic strategists remain concerned. Many within the party fear that the campaign’s cautious approach could backfire, especially as Donald Trump and other Republican candidates flood media channels and dominate headlines with their frequent public appearances. David Axelrod’s comments underscore a growing sense of urgency among party insiders, who feel that Harris needs to engage more actively and broadly with the public to demonstrate her leadership abilities and connect with voters on a personal level.
The Harris-Walz campaign is now faced with the challenge of balancing the vice president’s visibility while avoiding further missteps. As the election draws nearer, the pressure mounts for Harris to prove her mettle and regain confidence among both the Democratic base and undecided voters. Whether the campaign will adjust its strategy and increase its media presence remains to be seen, but many agree that doing so could be crucial to overcoming the challenges posed by their opponents.
As the viral clip continues to circulate, it serves as a reminder of the high stakes and scrutiny that come with a presidential campaign, particularly for the vice president. The coming weeks will be critical for the Harris-Walz ticket, as they seek to navigate the spotlight and energize their supporters in the final stretch before Election Day.