Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville warned supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential run that beating Donald Trump isn’t going to be easy.
Carville, who appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday, told co-host Mika Brzezinski that even though funding for Harris’ presidential campaign is off to a record-setting start, her supporters should face the reality that there’s tough road ahead.
“It’s going to be very close, and I understand that people are feeling a lot better and excited. But that excitement has got to be tempered with realism, and the realism is she has a tough campaign,” Carville said.
Brzezinski pressed Carville to expound on his “realism” point.
The political strategist said Harris has a few headwinds, including a shortened runway to “accomplish what most campaigns have eight months to do.”
He added that Harris’ identity as a minority woman may excite some voters, but she faces Trump, who has a very enthusiastic base of his own that is ready to fight to get the former president elected.
“You know, we have a woman, a non-white woman, and people are genuinely and understandably excited about that. But we also got a locked-in and entrenched opponent who’s got a large part of the country behind him who are going to pull out — and they don’t care what’s true or what’s fair or anything else — and you got to be ready for that at every point.”
Carville added, “All I’m saying to Democrats is, enjoy yourself, feel good, but it’s tough sledding ahead, and let’s get together and get this thing done.”