Maroon Bison Presents: The Southern Comfort Podcast
Hosted by veteran campaign operatives and HBCU alums Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel, The Southern Comfort Podcast delivers unfiltered political analysis with a Southern perspective, drawing from over 40 years of combined experience shaping campaigns from City Hall to the White House. Each week, they break down complex policies, share insider stories, and explore the intersection of politics and culture, offering listeners a front-row seat to the strategies and wisdom that drive American politics.
Maroon Bison Presents: The Southern Comfort Podcast
Episode 2 | The South Got Somethin' to Say
What happens when you’ve poured everything into a campaign, only to watch it all fall apart? In this episode of The Southern Comfort Podcast, Kevin and Rich take a brutally honest look at the 2016 election, the strategic missteps that cost Hillary Clinton the presidency, and why Black voters (especially Black men) still feel politically homeless. From Obama-era campaign lessons to the future of the Democratic Party, they unpack what went wrong—and what needs to change before 2024. Plus, the Mamba Mentality Award goes to a political powerhouse who’s taken more hits than most and keeps showing up.
Topics
📍 03:42 – "They Don't Know What the Hell They're Talking About"
Obama’s surprising take on high-powered political rooms—and why HBCUs prepare you to own the table.
📍 06:54 – "Iowa Is a Scam (And Always Was)"
The guys debate whether the Corn State ever really mattered—and why South Carolina is finally getting its due.
📍 22:25 – "The South Was Winnable. So Why Did They Ignore It?"
The night Bill Clinton himself pulled Rich aside to vent about the campaign’s biggest mistake.
📍 27:52 – "Black Voters: Taken for Granted or Just Left Behind?"
How campaigns misread Black political engagement—and why economic survival trumps everything, even racism.
📍 35:45 – "Losing to Trump Twice Hits Different"
Kevin reflects on working three anti-Trump campaigns, and why both times the Democrats lost, a woman was on the ballot.
🏆 Mamba Mentality Award Goes To…
🐍 Hillary Rodham Clinton (HRC) – For resilience, consistency, and getting back up no matter how many times she’s knocked down. Love her or hate her, she never stopped fighting.
🐍 Honorable Mention: President Obama’s Shade – Because realizing that half the people in power have no idea what they’re doing is the real political awakening.