Obama blames economic conditions for Harris’s defeat

Former President Barack Obama has suggested that a host of economic conditions were responsible for Kamala Harris’s defeat. “This is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for. But living in a democracy is about recognizing that our point of view won’t always win out, and being willing to accept the peaceful transfer of power,” he said.

Obama also expressed pride in the efforts of Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, who faced a decisive defeat in the election. He described them as “two extraordinary public servants who ran a remarkable campaign.”

“As I said on the campaign trail, America has been through a lot over the last few years — from a historic pandemic and price hikes resulting from the pandemic, to rapid change and the feeling a lot of folks have that, no matter how hard they work, treading water is the best they can do,” Barack Obama said in the statement. “Those conditions have created headwinds for democratic incumbents around the world, and last night showed that America is not immune.

“The good news is that these problems are solvable — but only if we listen to each other, and only if we abide by the core constitutional principles and democratic norms that made this country great,” he said.