Dianne Schwartz, an 80-year-old Chicagoan, found a renewed sense of optimism amidst her daily routine. She listens to political podcasts while she exercises and today, she experienced a shift in her emotions. Schwartz admitted, “I realized today, while I was listening to my podcasts, that I spent the last few days without worrying and being depressed. That’s amazing.”
Not long ago, Schwartz had accepted the possibility of former President Donald Trump winning in November and potentially being the last president of her lifetime. However, with President Biden’s decision to step back from a re-election campaign and the swift support for Vice President Kamala Harris, Schwartz has been feeling surprisingly positive about politics. “I haven’t been this excited about an election since Kennedy,” she shared.
The Kamala Harris Effect
Many Democrats have echoed Schwartz’s sentiments, describing a presidential race that initially felt daunting and likely headed towards defeat by Trump, now transforming into a more hopeful journey. Lisa Burns, an art teacher from New Haven, Conn., reflected on the shift, “It was just going to be this horrible, slow slog between two old men that nobody liked.” She continued, “Now, everyone I know is happy.”
Amanda Litman, who leads a group focused on recruiting progressives for political office, summarized the change in perspective, “It’s gone from the dread election to the hope election, overnight.”
