David Plouffe, a prominent strategist for Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign, recently vanished from the social platform X after a post ignited controversy surrounding President Joe Biden.
Following Harris’s unexpected loss to former President Donald Trump this week, Plouffe deleted his account amid growing criticism over comments that seemed to lay blame at Biden’s feet, as reported by The Hill [1].
Plouffe’s final message struck a chord with his followers as he acknowledged Harris’s defeat. “It was a privilege to work on Team Harris,” he wrote, expressing pride in his colleagues’ efforts. Plouffe praised the campaign staff, saying they “left it all out on the field” in their push to prevent a Trump resurgence in the White House.
Still, his message took a somber tone: “We dug out of a deep hole but not enough. A devastating loss. Thanks for being in the arena, all of you.”
Harris campaign advisor David Plouffe appears to delete his X account after taking a dig at Biden.
“We dug out of a deep hole but not enough. A devastating loss.” pic.twitter.com/tTtH5fJmyF [2]
— Julianna Frieman (@JuliannaFrieman) November 7, 2024 [3]
The comment faced rapid backlash. Screenshots circulated, showing hundreds of replies and intense debate over the strategist’s thinly veiled criticism of Biden. By Thursday morning, his account on X was nowhere to be found.
Just days before the election, Plouffe had forecasted Harris’s potential victory in the seven pivotal swing states. The prediction fell flat as Decision Desk HQ projections confirmed Trump’s clean sweep across those states, a stark contrast to the confident projections some Democrats had anticipated.
David Plouffe, senior adviser to the Harris campaign, says the VP could win all 7 battlegrounds—and that she’s “positioned to win” undecided voters. Hear why pic.twitter.com/EcssUrMp4F [4]
— Erin Burnett OutFront (@OutFrontCNN) November 5, 2024 [5]
Harris’s defeat reverberated beyond her campaign, leading to further fractures within the Democratic Party.
Alongside Harris’s loss, the Senate and likely the House have slipped from Democratic control, leaving many within the party alarmed at the future implications. Key Democrats have voiced regret over Biden’s choice to remain in the race, with some suggesting that he should have stepped aside sooner.
Others are pointing to Harris’s strategic missteps, arguing that her focus on Trump overshadowed her ability to connect with Americans on key economic issues.
Biden’s own standing with the public had taken a serious hit around the time he exited the race, with his approval rating hovering at 40% following a rough debate showing that left many questioning his influence on the campaign.
As the Democratic Party faces significant challenges ahead, Plouffe’s abrupt departure from X serves as a symbolic end to a contentious chapter within Harris’s campaign.