Critics of Kamala Harris pivot to well-worn historical playbook of attacks

LAWRENCE — Gender politics researchers and authors Mary Banwart and Teri Finneman weren’t surprised the old misogynist playbook for campaigning against women was dusted off when Vice President Kamala Harris stepped forward as the Democratic Party’s presumed nominee for president.

The ability of men and women to undermine legitimacy of female candidates has been a central feature of U.S. politics for more than a century, but cracks in that gender-based foundation emerged with the nominations...