The stolen valor revelations put the Harris/Walz campaign in an untenable position.
Team Harris delayed doing any interviews/press conferences because they wanted to get their ducks in a row on the VP front and the policy front. But now they *can’t* do interviews or press conferences because Walz’ stolen valor is indefensible. Walz can’t defend his lies, and Harris can’t defend selecting him.
So they are going to have to keep the campaign running on the high of Dem relief at Biden being replaced. But the election is three months away. Media frustration will grow, coverage will get less rosy, pressure on both Harris and Walz will increase.
I’d be long Trump.
Understand too that this is the downside for Dems of Harris coming in as the nominee at the last minute.
A Presidential candidate would normally have a year and a half to build a policy platform out - with brainstorming, talking to stakeholders, revisions, approvals, and all that entails. Team Harris has to do that in about four weeks.
Trump had six months to do VP vetting after effectively securing the nomination. Harris had two weeks.
So you have a campaign that wasn’t ready to do interviews or press conferences and one that couldn’t do thorough, considered VP vetting. This is the result.
Biden was losing, badly. Harris wouldn’t want to just run on “we’re going to keep doing what Joe did.” She also has the baggage of all her 2020 statements.
I guarantee you that the campaign policy shop has been burning the midnight oil.
Earlier today we highlighted some individual prosecution decisions made by the now-suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell.
Now, let’s take a broader look at @GovRonDeSantis’ executive order to see how Worrell was derelict in her duty.
We’ll start with gun crime.
Florida has mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office referred 58 non-homicide Robbery with a Firearm cases to Worrell’s office in 2021 and 2022.
As of May 2023, only one mandatory minimum sentence had been imposed in any of those cases.
That Sheriff’s office also referred 11 non-homicide Carjacking with a Firearm cases and 14 non-homicide Home Invasion Robbery with a Firearm cases during that period.
Out of those arrests, only one resulted in a mandatory minimum sentence being imposed.
Today, @GovRonDeSantis suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell for dereliction of duty and incompetence.
Here are some examples of her policies or practices in action.
Daton Viel was arrested in March 2023 for sexual battery on a minor, as well as Lewd and Lascivious Molestation.
That arrest was made while Viel was on probation for another offense. Viel was still let out on bond.
This past weekend, Viel shot two Orlando Police Officers.
In November 2022, 17-year-old Lorenzo Larry shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend, De’Shayla Ferguson.
Larry had previously been arrested in May 2022 for carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm on school property, and criminal possession of a firearm by a minor.