James Carville, a prominent Democratic strategist, urged his party to stay grounded despite recent favorable polling for Vice President Kamala Harris. During an appearance on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” Carville cautioned that President Donald Trump has historically outperformed his polling numbers, making him a tougher opponent than the current polling suggests.
Carville noted that while Harris has a slight national lead, the race is razor-thin in crucial battleground states, where Trump currently has a slight edge. He stressed that Democrats need to win the popular vote by a significant margin to secure the Electoral College, as Trump has consistently done better than expected in key swing states.
“President Trump runs, he overperforms his polling averages,” Carville said, adding that Democrats should avoid becoming overconfident. He pointed to the 2016 and 2020 elections as examples of Trump defying pollsters, urging Democrats to focus on the challenges ahead rather than celebrating early gains.
Carville’s warning is echoed by other prominent voices within the party. CNN’s Van Jones expressed concern over Harris’s inability to widen the gap in polls despite favorable media coverage and Trump’s recent blunders. Jones highlighted that the race remains a dead heat and stressed the importance of gaining a clear lead before Election Day.
As the campaign continues, Carville’s advice serves as a reminder that Democrats cannot afford to take Trump’s support lightly. With the race so tight in key states, any complacency could lead to unexpected outcomes in November.
