Democratic strategist James Carville appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Wednesday, offering a pointed message for the Harris-Walz campaign.

Carville advised Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, to stop focusing on the 2020 presidential election and the January 6 Capitol unrest, as Breitbart reports.

Instead, Carville urged the campaign to prioritize more pressing issues like health care and disinformation in their messaging.

Carville believes that continued discussions around January 6 and the 2020 election are counterproductive.

During his appearance, he emphasized that the Harris-Walz team needs to be more aggressive in its approach to campaigning and focus on issues that resonate with voters today.

Carville Criticizes Focus on Jan. 6

Carville was direct in his criticism of the Harris-Walz campaign’s current messaging. He stated that the discussions surrounding the 2020 election and the Capitol riot have been thoroughly debated and should no longer dominate the conversation.

“We’ve talked about January 6 ad infinitum, ad nauseam. We’ve been talking about who won the election. Leave it alone,” Carville said.

He expressed concern that the campaign risks losing voter interest by continuing to focus on past events. Instead, Carville recommended a pivot to more relevant issues that directly affect voters, suggesting a more dynamic and strategic approach.

Health Care and Disinformation Should Be the Focus

One of the key points Carville raised was the importance of focusing on health care. He specifically mentioned Republican Sen. JD Vance’s stance on health care, which he called a “massive lie.”

According to Carville, targeting Vance’s claims would provide the Harris-Walz campaign with an opportunity to strengthen its position on an issue that directly impacts voters.

Carville also pointed to disinformation as a crucial topic the campaign should address. In his view, misinformation and false claims have become a major issue in recent political discourse, and tackling this problem would resonate with many voters.

Calls for High-Profile Surrogates

In addition to advising the Harris-Walz campaign on issue selection, Carville emphasized the importance of leveraging high-profile surrogates in key swing states. He encouraged bringing in former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama to advocate for the campaign’s positions on issues like health care.

Carville suggested that Clinton should make appearances in every major market, especially in swing states, to underscore the importance of health care. He added that Obama should publicly challenge any misleading statements made by Republican candidates, particularly those relating to health care plans.

National Security Figures Could Bolster Campaign

Carville also recommended that the Harris-Walz campaign enlist national security figures like Liz Cheney and Dick Cheney to bolster its messaging. He believes that involving these high-profile individuals would help reinforce the campaign’s credibility on matters of national security.

“I think the Liz Cheney, the Dick Cheney stuff, all these national security people coming out, I think that helps. I really do,” Carville stated, underscoring the potential impact of these figures on the campaign’s success.

Strategic Messaging and a Focus on Voters

Carville’s comments emphasized the need for the Harris-Walz campaign to adopt a more focused and strategic approach. By moving away from discussions about the past and focusing on current issues that affect voters directly, Carville believes the campaign can create a stronger, more engaging narrative.

His call for greater strength in messaging reflects the urgency he sees in the current political landscape. “Be aggressive. Don’t take anything for granted. I think that’s a good lesson for Vice President Harris’ campaign,” Carville said, adding that complacency could be detrimental to their efforts.

Conclusion

James Carville’s appearance on Morning Joe sent a clear message to the Harris-Walz campaign: stop dwelling on the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and focus on current, voter-centric issues.

Carville highlighted health care and disinformation as key areas where the campaign should concentrate its efforts. He also recommended utilizing high-profile surrogates like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama in swing states, as well as bringing in national security figures to strengthen their platform, but whether that advice will be heeded, only time will tell.