Startling claims about the 2024 presidential race have emerged from former Vice President Kamala Harris during her recent media appearances.

While promoting her new book, Harris inaccurately stated that the November presidential election was the closest of the 21st century, a claim disproven by historical election data, as Breitbart reports.

Harris is currently on a media tour to promote her book titled 107 Days. She appeared on MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show on Monday, where she first made her assertion about the election’s closeness.

Examining Harris's bold election claim

The following day, on Tuesday, she reiterated her statement during an interview on ABC’s The View. She told the audience that the 2024 race marked a historic moment due to its tight outcome. The studio audience responded with applause to her remarks.

Harris emphasized her point on The View, saying, “By the way, another piece of what is unprecedented and a bit historical about that race, it is the closest presidential race in the twenty-first century, in terms of outcome.”

Co-host Ana Navarro encouraged her to restate the claim for added impact. Navarro remarked, “You know, say that again because he likes to say over and over again that he got a mandate.”

Unpacking historical election data

Harris also explained her motivation for documenting the race in her book. She stated, “Well, that’s part of why I wrote this book, because history will talk about this race.” She added, “It is part of American history.”

However, historical election records contradict Harris’s assertion about the 2024 race. Data shows that the closest presidential contest of this century was in 2000, when George W. Bush narrowly defeated Al Gore with a 271-266 Electoral College margin.

More recent elections also challenge her claim about 2024. The 2020 race saw Joe Biden win over Donald Trump by a 74-vote Electoral College margin, closer than the 86-vote margin by which Harris lost in 2024.

Analyzing Harris' 2024 performance

Further details of the 2024 election paint a different picture of the race’s competitiveness. Harris did not secure victory in any of the swing states, a critical factor in presidential contests.

Additionally, she failed to shift any county in her favor during the campaign. This lack of regional gains contributed to her overall electoral shortfall.

Another significant statistic underscores the outcome of the 2024 race. Harris became the first Democratic candidate in 20 years to lose the popular vote, marking a notable setback for her party.

Reflecting on former VP's media narrative

Despite these electoral realities, Harris has framed the 2024 race as a pivotal moment in her book and interviews. Her repeated emphasis on its supposed closeness suggests an intent to shape public perception of the election’s significance.

Critics might argue that such claims could mislead audiences unfamiliar with historical election margins. The data clearly indicates other races in the 21st century held tighter results than in 2024.

As Harris continues her media tour for 107 Days, her statements will likely face further scrutiny. The contrast between her narrative and the factual record of past elections remains a point of contention for political analysts and historians alike.