Kamala Harris' Withdrawal From The Presidential Race Could Help Julian Castro

[TexasTowelie]

On Tuesday, the last Texan in the presidential race, Julián Castro, lamented about the dwindling number of presidential candidates of color vying for the Democratic nomination. Kamala Harris had just suspended her bid, and Castro chastised the media for contributing to candidates of color leaving the race. Ironically, the comment seemed to motivate donors to support Castro’s flagging campaign, leading to a better-than-normal day of fundraising for the former San Antonio mayor.

Sonia Garcia is a professor of political science at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, and says Castro criticized the media for applying different standards to Harris, an African American woman, and other candidates. She says the media criticized Harris for not having a clear message, and for flip-flopping. Garcia doesn’t believe those narratives are accurate.

“It’s no surprise that women, especially women of color, are treated [with] a different standard – unlike men, unlike white women,” Garcia says. “So there’s this extra scrutiny placed on women of color.”

Garcia says Harris enjoyed acclaim and high poll numbers for a time after the first Democratic debate. But later, she says the media started using a double standard to evaluate her performance. She says Castro, who is Latino, also experienced something of a double standard when it came to media coverage.

Read more: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/kamala-harris-withdrawal-from-the-presidential-race-could-help-julian-castro/

[Renew Deal]

1. Is he going to get to 2% without rounding?

[TexasTowelie]

2. I'm not putting in money in on that bet. nt

[oldsoftie]

4. I shouldnt laugh....

[evertonfc]

3. To be honest

my heart has always been with Castro and Beto. Castro youthful, speaks his mind and is the very demographic that is the fastest growing in America. He has a story that is inspiring and just looks like the candidate that would provide stark generational contrast on a debate stage next to a 74 year old white guy in a general election.

[Demsrule86]

8. Castro who led voters across the border in Texas I believe and wants to decriminalize all forms of

entry would be a disaster for us as our nominee... do we want to win?

[Demsrule86]

9. Castro dropped out I thought...

[TidalWave46]

5. Castro is not the total package but he does have something we need in a huge way.

He understand systemic governmental oppression better than anyone running. Hands down. He understands it at the local, state and federal level. He is brilliant when speaking about it and knows it like the back of his hand.

Nothing will help him in his bid for the Presidency. That doesn't mean he isn't awesome.

[msongs]

6. another candidate selling what the voters dont want to buy nt

[MineralMan]

7. It might give Castro another percentage point in polls.

That's it, though. Castro is out of the running already. So are most of the rest of the field, aside from the top four. There is not time left for someone to spring up from the basement and suddenly become relevant to this primary race. It's just not going to happen.

So, Kamala Harris was sitting there, just under 10% in the best case scenario. Maybe 1% goes to Castro. Maybe 3 or 4% goes to Elizabeth Warren, and an equal amount to Joe Biden. 1% to Amy Klobuchar, and the rest to Bernie, for whatever reason. And that's all Harris has to give, really.

You know who will benefit the most? Joe Biden. If he picks up even 3% from her leaving the race, that will look like a lot more added to the numbers for the one leader throughout the primary race. Last I saw, Joe Biden was at around 30% again. So, moving up to 33% would be a big deal, actually. But, it might be even more, if rumors that Biden might make Harris his running mate become more credible. I'll bet that would boost his poll ratings 5% or even 6%. If Harris appeared to endorse Biden, that 6% boost would be almost certain. Biden polling at 36% would be a very big deal, indeed. Suddenly, he'd start looking invincible and attract additional supporters.

Every candidate who drops out adds available voters to the polling pool. We're going to see more of that coming soon. Where do dropped-out candidates' supporters go? I don't know. We'll find out, though.