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The potential for a participation trophy consolation prize had people buzzing over Time’s top finalists for 2024 Person of the Year.

After riding President Joe Biden’s coattails to the cover following her first failed attempt at the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris was among the ten names in consideration for the honor having carried the “palace coup” to a resounding defeat by President-elect Donald Trump.

The reality of a swing state sweep, electoral college, and popular vote success along with Republican majorities in the House and Senate didn’t stop the news magazine from fawning over the more than $1 billion boondoggle while downplaying the obstacles faced by the GOP leader.

“The night of July 21, President Joe Biden announced he was ending his presidential campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination. What followed was a remarkable 107-day presidential campaign as Harris sought to become the first woman President,” detailed Time and continued:

“Harris centered her campaign on reproductive rights, slamming former President Donald Trump for his role in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and suggested that Trump is a threat to democracy.”

“But she lost to Trump, and conceded the race on Nov. 6..Harris, along with Biden, was previously on the Person of the Year cover in 2020–the year that the duo defeated Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence.”

By comparison, the description of Trump’s “stunning political comeback” highlighted the impact of “young male voters,” his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election, and his felony conviction.

Noting the economy and border were top priorities, Time then propped up concerns over tariff threats and “controversial Cabinet appointments” before reminding he was Person of the Year in 2016.

In presenting their list ahead of Thursday’s reveal, the magazine wrote, “Since 1927, TIME has named a person, group, or concept that had the biggest impact — for good or for ill — on the world over the previous 12 months. In 2023 TIME selected pop superstar Taylor Swift as Person of the Year. Other previous selections include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the ‘spirit of Ukraine’ in 2022, tech titan Elon Musk in 2021, the Ebola fighters in 2014, and former U.S. President Barack Obama in 2012 and 2008.”

With Harris kicking off the alphabetical list and Trump near the bottom, the other contenders included: Princess of Wales Kate Middleton; Elon Musk; Russian economist and widow of Alexie Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell; Joe Rogan; Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Mark Zuckerberg.

While it remains to be seen who will ultimately receive the nod from Time, interspersed between arguments that Trump had more than earned the honor by overcoming lawfare, corporate media bias and assassination attempts were knocks against Harris who somehow still was considered a favorite for a 2028 nomination.

Kevin Haggerty
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