One of the fundamentals of good marketing is that one must understand the consumer insights to data which is seen on the table. The General Elections 2024 had 17.1 million registered voters from which 11.1 million were the valid votes casted. From this data set 61.6% of people decide to buy Brand NPP. The brand garnered a two-thirds majority in Parliament with a commanding 159 seats whilst most of the geographical areas registered a 60% plus favoured the NPP brand. Be it, Hambantota at 66.3%, Gampaha at 7.7% and Colombo at 68.6% made a pretty picture for the NPP brand. The question that one needs to ask is, what is the actual reason for 95% of districts wanting brand NPP (which included the Tamil community of Northern Province); that is the insight that we need to find backed by data. When I was managing the Dettol brand I remember my Marketing Director saying the devil is in the details. The September data from Pepper Cube research company revealed that 70% of people are faced with the reality where their income is lower than their expenditure. The savings have been dwindling month on month. Leasing companies have wiped out Sri Lanka’s household gold reserves due to pawning. Families have now turned to mortgaging their household items. 73% of the people are having two meals a day. One third of households cannot afford to buy a soft drink, 24% of homes have stopped consuming milk powder and 40% not having the purchasing power to buy malted milk. Things are rough at the household end. Companies that are manufacturing soaps, toothpaste and washing powder have been struggling to achieve their sales target in the last three months. The returned cheques from the retail trade have significantly increased in the last two months. This is the ground reality. The alleged corruption by politicians with their exuberant lifestyles with illegal flashy vehicles adds to the anger of a typical hard working parent. The landslide victory had flashes of anger-votes. Let’s accept it. It’s very clear that the reason for purchase of brand NPP was on the two attributes – reduce cost of living and stop corruption. These two attributes single-mindedly was the driving force for the landslide victory. The brand promise of NPP to the people of Sri Lanka was an ideal fit. People in 95% of the districts selected the brand NPP including Jaffna and the Vanni that had never happened in recent history. Brand Vijitha and Harini broke all records crossing a 700k and 600k preferential votes, giving us an idea of the confidence level of the consumer (in this case the voter). Now the challenge is for the product to perform and address the two key issues – cost of living and corruption. If one tracks back at Brand AKD and Brand NPP strategy it is marketing at its best. Work began as far back as two years ago with the two propositions – highlighting the cost of living issue and the corruption that was taking place. Sugar scam, visa scam just to name a few of the governance issues in the recent past that were highlighted. The AKD, NPP marketing strategy was developed on the accepted framework that an increase in the Share of Voice (SOV) with an increased marketing spend, will have a direct link to the Share of Mind (SOM) of the target consumer group. This increased SOM will reflect with a corresponding market share. The only exception of the AKD/NPP strategy was that rather than just pouring in money (SOV), the focus was on the ‘message’ and meeting people house to house explaining the two key issues – cost of living issue and corruption that was happening. It was a low cost, high impact strategy. The conversion was a slow process but it was definitive. The strategy was not a quick fix SOV= SOM= Mkt Share approach that competitors were implementing in the market. Normally the reason why an increased SOV is required if there is a hole in the overall proposition. Let’s do a deep dive to understand the AKD/NPP strategy. Given that the duration between the Presidential and General election was just a one month duration, selecting the former is appropriate. Based on the data published by the Sri Lanka Election Commission the total marketing spend by the top five candidates was Rs. 3.3 billion at the ‘Presidential Election 2024’. In marketing terminology we call this the category share of voice. From a brand perspective, Brand Sajith Premadasa has spent Rs. 1.13 billion which is a share of voice (SOV) of 34.2%. Brand Ranil has spent Rs. 936 million which is a share of voice (SOV) 28.3%. Brand AKD had spent Rs. 528 million which is a SOV of 16% whilst Brand Namal has reported a spend Rs. 389 million which is a share of 11.7%. New entrant Brand Dilith has spent Rs. 325 million with a SOV of 9.8%. The market share that each of them garnered was Brand Sajith 32.7%, Brand Ranil 17.2%, Brand AKD 42.3%, Brand Namal 2.5% and Brand Dilith 0.92%. The accepted theory of Share of Voice (SOV) that one makes based on the marketing spend will be equal to the Share of Market (SOM) that one can get in a consumer’s mind and the corresponding Market Share was the grounded theory that was followed. The theory goes on to state that the market share and ad spending are strongly correlated in a stable market place when all elements of the marketing mix are evenly balanced. For example if we take a confectionery brand like Maliban and Munchee, the share of Marketing spend can be linked to the Market share given that pricing, distribution and product in its nakedness is similar in nature. Hence, if a competitor resorts to a huge ad spend then one can expect a push in market share. As discussed earlier, this works on the premise that the other variables that impact behaviour are somewhat similar in nature such as product attributes, pricing strategies, availability of the product and the current equity of the brand. Based on this theory, Brand Sajith with a spend of Rs. 1.13 billion and share of voice of 34.2% should have garnered a share of 34% of votes. He is close with a share of 32.7% at the Presidential election with 4.3 million people voting for him. This means that the quality of decision making and the imagery that he built has got the best return that he could have achieved. It’s a positive 1:1 ROI in other words. On the other hand brand AKD has spent only a 16% on SOV but the market share he has been able to elucidate is a commanding 42.3% which means that his ROI is 1:3 which is extremely positive. If one does a deep dive on why the ROI is 300% could be the credibility of what he said (message) resonates exactly to the requirements of the consumer (in this case a voter). In simple words the ‘anti-corruption drive’ and the relief to the ‘high cost of living’ were the top two attributes that a typical voter was going to make a decision on whom they will vote for. Brand AKD is the ideal fit. Which is why from a 3% voter base in the 2020 General election, the numbers have shot up to 43.7% in 2024. In the recent Parliamentary Elections the number went up to 61.3% with a consumer choice of 6.7 million people (voters), further validating that the performance of the government in the first month was way above the expectations of the people of Sri Lanka. Once again in marketing terminology we call this the ‘Product Performance’ to be in line with consumer needs. Marketing at its best. On the other hand Brand Namal having to spend 11.7% of Share of voice (SOV) for a 2.9% of market share means that the product lacked credibility and their message was totally out of sync with the voter requirement. Technically this is what happens in the real world of marketing. If the elements of the marketing mix are not in line with the consumer requirements the money you have to invest for a consumer to buy the brand is not efficient. Hence the way forward is to ‘change the product’ to what the consumer wants and relaunch the brand. In this context Brand Namal has a five-year window to do this task. It’s a tough task given that the equity of the brand in the consumer’s mind is out of step with the consumer values and beliefs. It’s a deep rooted issue that will need a lot of work to be done. If we take a case in point from the world of business we see that the importance of the science of marketing where the relationship between advertising spending to market share is positively correlated provided that there is a competitive equilibrium situation. Meaning all elements of the marketing mix are evenly balanced. What this means is that the largest and smallest players each enjoy a share of the market (SOM) somewhat bigger than their share of ad spending (SOV). Hence we see that a small player will have to spend more to get share like what we saw like in the case of Brand Namal having to spend Rs. 389 million or a share of voice (SOV) of 11.7% to get a share of 2.9% whilst a dominant brand like Brand AKD had to spend only a 16% share of voice to get a 43.7% market share. If we analyse the marketing spend in the recently concluded Parliamentary elections 2024, the SOV will be much lower in relation to the 61.3% market share that was received. This is the power of a credible brand with a product performance which is in line to the consumer’s needs. In simple words, addressing the core issues – cost of living and corruption in the media and a lower SOV could garner a relatively higher market share. The logic of the democracy ethos is that it is marketing that brings democracy to a system for two reasons. The first being that the product/service that is offered by a candidate must be communicated effectively in a manner so that the consumer is better informed on who best fits their requirement. On this front, the complex issue of why Sri Lanka went to bankruptcy was brilliantly articulated by the NPP members, given that the party members all are from the university system of Sri Lanka and have a strong capability to explain in the Sinhala language. The tread of corruption leading to the economic crisis and challenge to the cost living came out very strongly. The second being that unless the product being advertised has credibility on the ‘performance’ the chances of it getting picked up is greater. Hence the concept ‘marketing a political candidate to high office’ can be justified. Which is exactly what happened at Presidential and Parliamentary elections 2024. Given the clear selection of the brand by a consumer of Sri Lanka – 61.5% with 159 seats and 95% of the districts voting in favour, now the challenge is the delivery of the brand at the ground – which is a reduction in cost of living and zero corruption. If the product delivery does not happen then we will see history repeating in Sri Lanka like what happens to band Gota. We must also note that the notion ‘Power corrupts power absolutely’ should not be forgotten. History can repeat itself and we must be cognisant of the same. The next 100 days are critical. The key policy changes will have to be made. The key issues in the marketplace from Nadu rice to egg prices will have to be solved. PAYE tax reduction promise and salary increase to the public sector will be key performance indicators (KPIs). In other words deliver or perish will be the order of new Sri Lanka.CINCINNATI (AP) — Saturday's wild overtime win over the Denver Broncos was the most important in what has been a mostly disappointing season for the Cincinnati Bengals. Not only did the Bengals (8-8) win their fourth straight for the first time this season and keep their slim playoff hopes alive, but they also finally made enough plays late to win a close game. Seven of their previous eight losses were by one score. And Cincinnati also got a win over one of the league's better teams. Its seven previous victories came against sub-.500 teams. Joe Burrow, in the midst of the best season of his career, threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins with 1:07 left in overtime to win it 30-24. The final drive followed two critical stops by the Cincinnati defense. “We’ve known we had a good football team all along,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “And those (close) games are disappointing that we came up short, but they didn’t change our process. They didn’t change what our guys believed in. We didn’t have to change everything we did. We still believed in what we were doing. And now we’ve won four in a row, and we have to make it five in a row.” The playoffs are still a long shot. To get there, the Bengals will have to go into Pittsburgh and beat the Steelers next weekend in the regular-season finale and also count on other bubble teams losing. What's working The Bengals are playing their best football of the season. Burrow, battered by the Denver pass rush, completed nearly 80% of his passes in piling up 412 yards and three touchdowns. It marked his eighth straight game with at least 250 yards and three touchdown passes, extending his NFL record. ... Receiver Ja'Marr Chase, who had nine catches for 102 yards against the Broncos, could finish the season with the receiving triple crown — most catches, yards and touchdowns. What needs help The offensive line continues to struggle, even with the return of starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Burrow rarely had a clean pocket, was constantly on the run and was sacked seven times and hit 15 times. Stock up The Cincinnati defense, much maligned this season, forced two Denver punts in overtime. The second one led to the Bengals' game-winning drive. Linebacker Germaine Pratt intercepted Bo Nix to end a Denver drive in the fourth quarter. “For them to rise up and get those two stops and allow the offense a shot to go win it (is) big-time stuff,” Taylor said. Higgins caught 11 passes for 131 yards and was the recipient of all three of Burrow's touchdown passes. "Everybody can see what kind of player he is," Burrow said of Higgins, who is playing this season with the franchise tag. “He elevates us to a different level when he’s playing like that.” Stock down Kicker Cade York, who was signed in early December to fill in for the injured Evan McPherson, had a chance to win the game with 2:49 left in overtime, but his 33-yard field-goal attempt bounced off the left upright. Injuries RB Chase Brown sprained his ankle in an awkward slide as the Bengals tried to run out the clock in regulation. ... OT Amarius Mims suffered an injury to his right hand. Key number 499 — total yards by the Bengals against Denver. Next steps The Bengals finish the season at Pittsburgh. The Steelers beat them 44-38 on Dec. 1. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Mitch Stacy, The Associated Press
The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is dead at age 100The B.C. New Democratic and Green parties have reached an "agreement in principle" on a "co-operation and responsible government accord" that will see the smaller party support the government on confidence matters. The parties will also work together to achieve specific legislative goals in the coming session. In a statement Friday announcing the agreement, NDP Premier David Eby said the shared priorities are "strengthening health care, building affordable housing, creating livable communities and growing a strong sustainable economy." While the agreement announced Friday and published on the provincial government website is not the final accord between the two parties, it does note that the policies and budget commitments outlined in the agreement "are not subject to change." The final version of the accord will be executed in January, according to the agreement. The agreement lists 11 specific policy initiatives that the parties agree to pursue, under the headings "health care," "mental health care," "housing," "renters protection," "homelessness," "transit," "climate," "environment," "social and economic justice," "taxation," and "democratic and electoral reform." This last heading includes a commitment to create a special legislative all-party committee to recommend policies to be pursued in 2026 around the issues of democratic engagement and voter participation, "increasing political polarization," and improving "the representativeness of government." "The committee will review and consider preferred methods of proportional representation as part of its deliberations," the agreement reads. Other key commitments in the agreement include a pledge from the government to complete a review of its CleanBC program in 2025, one year earlier than scheduled, and to support the growth of the "Community Health Centre" model for primary care facilities in the province. According to the document, the Green Party agrees to support the government on "all confidence votes," as well as "agreed-upon motions and government bills." "We are two distinct parties with two distinct identities, and we won't always agree," Eby said in his statement. "We also have many shared values. The agreement lays out specific areas of action we will work together to achieve. This agreement will strengthen the stability of government and help deliver on the priorities of British Columbians. We will continue to work with all MLAs who want to make the legislature work for people." The October provincial election left the NDP with 47 seats, the slimmest possible majority in B.C.'s 93-seat legislature. Working with the Greens, who won two seats, will give the New Democrats more breathing room when attempting to pass legislation and survive confidence votes. The NDP and B.C. Greens last formally worked together during former premier John Horgan's first term, when he and former Green leader Andrew Weaver reached a confidence and supply agreement allowing the two parties to unseat Christy Clark's B.C. Liberals after the 2017 election. The agreement lasted until 2020, when Horgan called a snap election and was re-elected to a majority government.
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Share Tweet Share Share Email This year has seen Cardano (ADA) climb by over 175% of its original value, while Stellar (XLM) has more than tripled. Both projects are making huge waves in different ways. The research-driven and sustainability oriented Cardano has continued to have a stern focus on decentralized applications that are scalable and secure. In contrast, Stellar (XLM) has been focused on enhancing cross-border transactions. Currently seeing widespread attention in its presale, Lunex Network ($LNEX) is emerging as the next big challenger in DeFi. So what will 2024 and the rest of 2025 bring for these hot assets? Cardano (ADA) Expands Further Into The NFT Space Cardano (ADA) has been busy building significant partnerships in climate restoration, decentralized finance (DeFi), and NFTs. These collaborations will spread Cardano’s reach and demonstrate how versatile its blockchain technology is. Cardano (ADA) has also deployed a highly advanced scaling solution, Midgard, which employs multi-signature tech to bolster Cardano’s security. Stellar (XLM) Launches Protocol 20 To Improve Efficiency Protocol 20 is a major development that Stellar developers have been fine tuning over the last quarter. This update will improve network performance and security for Stellar (XLM) users and simplify Stellar transactions. This was a record year for Stellar, with its net value rising by over 300%, and analysts are curious about how the asset will fare in 2025. Lunex Network Delivers Advanced Features for Traders Lunex Network ($LNEX) is offering something fresh for traders, businesses, and developers. It comes packed with powerful trader tools to enhance the process. Its native portfolio tracker outshines standard exchange tools. For traders managing a variety of investments, this tracker is perfect. It lets users monitor ETFs, stocks and cryptocurrencies, allowing multifaceted traders to keep a firm grasp on their overall trading position. At its core is the $LNEX token, built to perform well even in uncertain markets. Token holders earn passive income through an 18% share of platform transaction fees, while the system’s limited supply of 8 billion tokens creates scarcity that could boost long-term value as adoption grows. Developers are also showing interest in Lunex Network ($LNEX). Its infrastructure includes 65 remote procedure call (RPC) nodes, ensuring fast and reliable communication between decentralized applications (dApps) and the blockchain. This setup supports seamless dApp development and enhances the platform’s appeal. The Lunex Network Presale Sees Huge Traction Lunex Network ($LNEX) is making waves with a design that appeals to a broad audience including traders, developers, and businesses. By combining an easy-to-use interface with advanced technical features and the potential of its $LNEX token, it offers an exciting prospect for forward-thinking investors. Currently in the seventh stage of its presale, tokens are available at just $0.0033. Analysts are projecting an impressive 1,800% growth by 2024, positioning Lunex Network as a standout opportunity for traders seeking a solid foundation for long-term success. As the cryptocurrency landscape evolves, projects like Cardano (ADA), Stellar (XLM), and Lunex Network ($LNEX) showcase the diversity and innovation within the industry. With each focusing on distinct areas—scalable dApps, efficient cross-border transactions, and trader-focused DeFi solutions—they highlight the potential for blockchain technology to revolutionize various sectors. Investors and enthusiasts are keeping a close eye on these projects, eager to see how they will shape the future of decentralized finance in 2024 and beyond. You can find more information about Lunex Network (LNEX) here: Website: https://lunexnetwork.com Socials: https://linktr.ee/lunexnetwork Related Items: Cardano (ADA) , Lunex Network Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Cardano Whales Quietly Accumulate an RWA Altcoin Set to Surge from $0.004 to $1 in 2025 Litecoin and Shiba Inu Holders Are Eyeing Big Gains After Investing in This Low-Cap Crypto Gary Gensler Set To Resign In January, What Does This Mean For Crypto? Can Pepe & Shiba Inu Reward Holders This Winter? CommentsThe presidential crisis that shook South Korea following the abrupt and short-lived introduction of martial law earlier this month, and the rapid fall of the long-standing regime of Bashir al Assad in Syria this week, highlight how fragile the stability of client states can be when patriarchal major powers shift their attention elsewhere. In the case of the US and Korea, that distraction was the aftermath of the presentational elections and continued anxiety about Donald Trump’s future strategic policy direction. In the case of Russia-Syria relations, it’s Moscow’s preoccupation with the ongoing war in Ukraine and reliance on the Iranian regime to keep an eye on the now-toppled Assad government. The Kremlin now has to deal with the fallout of the rapid changeover of power in Syria, the prospect of its long-term geopolitical dependent fragmenting into several conflicting pieces and the risk of losing a strategically important naval base in Tartus and an air base in Khmeimim. Dilemmas for Putin, with compliments to Assad Despite being offered asylum in Russia, Assad is unlikely to hold any real value for the Russians. In fact, Russian President Vladimir Putin has many reasons to be annoyed and upset with the ousted dictator. Russia’s swift intervention in the Syrian civil war in September 2015 did not just save the Assad regime. By December 2017, Damascus was successful in retaking the bulk of its territory, largely with the help of its Russian allies. Now, all these gains are gone. The same goes for the thousands of weapons and munitions supplied to the Syrian military by Russia, including some advanced air defence systems. They are now in the hands of rebel forces, and some Russian sensitive technologies may now end up being handed over to the West. The Russians will also be concerned about the potential spike in radicalism and terrorism across the former Soviet Central Asia and in Russia. Neutralising terrorism risks to Russia was one of the key reasons behind Moscow’s 2015 intervention. Now, the defeat of the Assad regime may trigger acts of politically motivated violence in Russia, similar to the March 22 Crocus City Hall concert massacre that killed 145 people and left another 551 injured. Putin will not want to see a recurrence of such a tragedy. Finally, the Kremlin does not want to see the end of its forward military presence in Syria’s Tartus and Khmeimim. Since 2015, Russia has been steadily converting its material-technical support facility in Tartus into a fully-developed forward naval base. Although the main mission of the Tartus base is to support the operation of Russia’s reanimated Mediterranean Squadron, it also allows the Russian navy to control the strategically viable Suez Canal as well as project limited power in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman. Like the expanded Tartus, the air base in Khmeimim was a game changer for the Russians in terms of wielding the federation’s power across the region. The expansion of the base, including the construction of a second 3km-long airstrip, allows the Russian Air Space Force to station long-range strike aircraft, among them Tu-22M3 intermediate bombers and MiG-31K modernized long-range strike aircraft. By operating from Khmeimim, these onboard weapons systems put the entire Persian/Arabian Gulf sub-region within their reach, thus giving the Kremlin a new suite of force options. Furthermore, Russia’s military presence in Syria has supported Moscow’s return to power in Africa, a factor that would be front of mind for strategists and decision-makers in the Kremlin. Few options left on the table Despite some media reporting that the Russian military has started withdrawing some assets from Syria, I seriously doubt that they would just walk away. The stakes are too high, and Moscow will feel the fallout from losing forward presence in Syria not just in the country but also across the Middle East as well as in Africa. The Russians are therefore likely to use all options available to them to get the incoming government in Syria to honour the 49-year lease agreement of Tartus and Khmeimim, which was signed and ratified in 2017. In the worst case, they will dig in and resist. To force a deal, the Kremlin will likely bring in elements of Syria’s former defence, security and intelligence apparatus, with whom the Russians developed close and trusted ties over the years. Without such an agreement, the Russians will have to find somewhere else to put their weapons. One of the options is Sudan where the Russian navy is already planning to establish a stand-alone naval support facility. Given the state of instability in the country, this alternative may prove to be as ambiguous as the future of Russia’s presence in Syria. At least for now. The acceleration of Russian efforts to establish a naval facility in the Indo-Pacific would be a more feasible option. If Russia is to leave Tartus its capacity to project power to the Red Sea and the north-west Indian Ocean by means of the Mediterranean Squadron would be severely curtailed. This in turn would apply more pressure on the Russian Pacific Fleet, which area of responsibility may be pushed again to as far as the Gulf and the Suez Canal. Thus the need for a forward naval base, for example in Myanmar (one of the possibilities). Regardless of what Moscow might do next, a rapid change of power in Syria is bad news for Putin and something he does not need to deal with at a time when the Kremlin is trying to develop its strategy for Donald Trump 2.0. And the timing of this development is equally bad. If Putin is to lose a stronghold in Syria, it would give Trump more confidence in pressuring the Kremlin to compromise on Ukraine. On December 19, Putin will host his annual press conference. I will be surprised if no questions about Russia’s future in Syria are asked. And I will be very intrigued to hear what Putin has to say on the matter. Dr. Alexey Muraviev is Associate Professor of National Security and Strategic Studies at Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia.
Should You Buy or Rent Your Router? I Wasted Almost $1K on Equipment Fees(The Center Square) – Although it remains unclear how many Democratic Senators will vote for the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, some House members in the party have explained why they voted yes, despite a controversial provision restricting military-funded transgender surgeries for minors. The nearly $900 billion bill passed the House 281-140 Wednesday, with 200 Republicans and 81 Democrats voting in favor versus 124 Democrats and 16 Republicans voting against it. Most of the NDAA consists of bipartisan agreements, such as pay raises for service members, strengthened ties with U.S. allies, and funding of new military technology. But a critical point of contention is a Republican addition that would prohibit the military’s health program from covering any gender dysphoria treatments on minors that could "result in sterilization.” The must-pass bill is so critical that nearly 40% of House Democrats voted in favor–but not without expressing their disappointment. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., condemned Republican colleagues who, she said, “chose to sully this bill with political culture wars;” nevertheless, she voted in favor. “While it doesn't address everything we asked for and consider important, including the full ability of parents to make their own decisions about healthcare for their children, it marks a rare moment of productive bipartisan agreement on what is arguably the most crucial legislation we take up as a body each year,” Houlahan said. The bill’s provision does not forbid service members’ children from receiving transgender therapy. It forbids the military’s health insurance provider, TRICARE, from covering treatments on minors that “may result in sterilization.” Reps. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, and Terri Sewell, D-Ala., also voted in favor of the bill despite their displeasure at the ban. “The NDAA is a hugely important bill. We had to pass it, which is why I voted yes,” Landsman posted on X Friday. “However, the anti-trans language that was attached to it was mean and awful and should never have been included.” “I have serious concerns about some remaining provisions that were placed in the bill for political purposes,” Sewell said Wednesday. “Still, the responsibility to support our service members and provide for our national security is one that I do not take lightly, which is why I ultimately chose to support the bill.” Besides the importance of annual military funding, another reason some House Democrats assented to the legislation is because they were successful in axing other House Republican amendments, such as a plan to eliminate reimbursements for service members who travel to obtain abortions. The Senate is expected to pass the bill within the next few days, after which President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM) Trading Down 1.4% – What’s Next?None
Article content Vice President Kamala Harris is working on determining her political future. Recommended Videos The 60-year-old insists she’s not ready to back down after getting demolished by Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election and becoming the first Democrat to lose the popular vote in two decades. Harris has told her closest allies that she is “staying in the fight” and plans to consider what the future holds in the coming weeks, sources told Politico . It’s been speculated that she could run for governor of California in 2026 or maybe even make a second bid for the presidency in 2028. “She doesn’t have to decide if she wants to run for something again in the next six months,” one former campaign aide told the outlet. “The natural thing to do would be to set up some type of entity that would give her the opportunity to travel and give speeches and preserve her political relationships.” While some Democrats are looking to former first lady Michelle Obama and California Gov. Gavin Newsom to run for president in four years, a post-election poll from Echelon Insights has Harris dominating a hypothetical 2028 Democratic primary, the New York Post reported. That said, would she want to endure that again? RECOMMENDED VIDEO Given that Newsom’s term is limited, a gubernatorial run could be better suited for the state’s former prosecutor and attorney general. “Could she run for governor? Yes. Do I think she wants to run for governor? Probably not. Could she win? Definitely. Would she like the job? I don’t know. Could she run for president again? Yes,” former Harris aide Brian Brokaw told Politico . “Would she have a whole bunch of skepticism from the outset, because she has run in a full-length Democratic primary where (in 2019) she didn’t even make it long enough to be in the Iowa caucus, and then she was the nominee this year?” he continued. “People can learn a lot from their previous adversity, too.” Harris had just over 100 days to take over Joe Biden’s campaign efforts and reintroduce herself to Americans as their possible leader, arguably too little time to sell herself and her policies to voters. Now, with more time to map out a game plan, Harris needs to figure out where she fits in within the Democratic Party. “There will be a desire to hear her voice, and there won’t be a vacuum for long,” a source with close ties to Harris told the outlet. “She is not someone who makes rash decisions. She takes, sometimes, a painfully long time to make decisions,” Brokaw noted, but added that she likely still doesn’t know what the future holds.
Assad lived in quiet luxury while Syrians went hungry
