Kamala Harris Faces Teleprompter Issues During Flint, MI Labor Event

Kamala Harris found herself in an uncomfortable situation during a recent visit to Flint, Michigan, when a teleprompter malfunction interrupted her speech at a labor union event. The Vice President, already facing challenges in maintaining union support, had to think quickly on her feet as the teleprompter unexpectedly went dark.

Harris was addressing a crowd of labor union members, a core constituency for Democratic politicians, in a bid to rally support ahead of the 2024 presidential election. But as her prepared remarks suddenly became unavailable, the look on her face said it all—she was caught off guard. The moment was captured on video, and the awkward silence that followed quickly became a talking point on social media.

Harris’s visit to Flint comes at a critical time for her and the Biden administration. Unions, long seen as reliable allies of the Democratic Party, are starting to distance themselves from the current leadership. One significant development was the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) recently announcing that it would not endorse a candidate for the 2024 presidential election. This is a stark departure from the past, as the IAFF had endorsed Joe Biden in 2019. Their decision not to back any candidate in the upcoming election sends a clear message to Harris and Biden: they are losing touch with a crucial base of support.

The last time the IAFF chose not to endorse a Democratic candidate was in 2016 when they withheld support from Hillary Clinton. That decision was seen as an early sign of trouble for her campaign, and some analysts are drawing parallels between Clinton’s struggles with union support and the challenges Harris now faces. It’s not just the IAFF either—union members across the country have shown signs of discontent, with many shifting their support to former President Donald Trump, whom they believe understands their concerns better than Harris or Biden.

A growing number of union members have become increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with the current administration. Trump, who has positioned himself as a champion of the working class, has won over many of these disillusioned union members. They view his policies on trade, jobs, and the economy as more beneficial to their interests than those of Harris and Biden.

While Harris and Biden have sought to paint themselves as champions of the middle class and labor unions, their administration’s handling of certain issues—ranging from the economy to labor rights—has drawn criticism. Some union members feel that their concerns have been sidelined in favor of progressive policies that don’t resonate with their needs. This growing discontent has opened the door for Trump to make inroads with a demographic that traditionally leaned Democratic.

Harris’s speech in Flint was part of an effort to reestablish a connection with union workers. In a bid to resonate with her audience, she emphasized her own middle-class background, stating, “I come from the middle class.” The remark seemed aimed at reminding union workers that she understands their struggles. However, for many in the audience, these words may have rung hollow.

The Vice President’s visit to Flint was a strategic attempt to mend relations with a critical voting bloc. Flint, a historically working-class city with a large union presence, is emblematic of the kind of voter Harris needs to win over. However, with unions like the IAFF withholding endorsements and others quietly shifting their support to Trump, the task ahead of her is daunting.

The teleprompter glitch at the Flint event may have been a small hiccup in the grand scheme of things, but it symbolized a larger issue: the administration’s messaging struggles. Harris, already battling an image problem with many working-class voters, seemed unprepared for the technical failure. The awkward pause that followed the malfunction was a metaphor for the broader disconnect between Harris and the very people she was trying to win over.

In an era of constant media scrutiny, small moments like these can become amplified, especially for a politician who is already facing criticism. For Harris, the challenge now is not just about fixing technical glitches in speeches, but about repairing a strained relationship with a key group of voters.

As the 2024 presidential election looms closer, Harris and Biden will need to work harder to regain the trust of union members, many of whom feel neglected by the current administration. While Trump continues to gain ground with this group, Harris’s attempts to reconnect may come across as too little, too late.

Her Flint visit was a clear attempt to do damage control, but the fallout from the event—particularly the teleprompter mishap—may have further illustrated the growing gap between Harris and the union workers she is trying to bring back into the fold.

WATCH:

Harris claimed she would invest in things like the auto industry, even though her position on EVs would be a “bloodbath” for the auto industry:

She lied about the Trump tax cuts that helped most Americans; she wants to stop them. That means, for many Americans, taxes would go up, on top of the “tax” she has already cost them with inflation:

Harris tried to mock Trump in a truly cringe moment while talking about “concepts of a plan,” despite the fact that she’s the one who hasn’t been clear about her own “plans.” Check out this cringe-a-rama:

But if he has no ideas, why does she seem to keep stealing them?

But perhaps the funniest — and most revealing moment — during her remarks in Flint was this one when the teleprompter went out. She started talking about Magic Johnson’s number being 32 and then said there are 32 days until the election. Check out the look on her face — you can see the moment that it happened, and then the desperate “filler” words as she waited for it to come back:

She was completely unsure what to do next. How can you ever put someone like that in charge, in such an important positiont? How would she deal with foreign leaders?

Heck, she can’t even deal with friendly press well:

 

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Joe Messina

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