Trump’s team is launching an offensive against Harris
After the June 27 presidential debate, Donald Trump’s top advisers expected Democratic concerns about President Joe Biden’s performance to fade and for the news cycle to shift. However, when the Democratic disarray intensified, Trump’s team began planning for a potential scenario where Biden might step down. They started examining potential Democratic candidates, assessing Trump’s chances against these contenders, and launching early attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris, whom they considered the most likely successor.
As Biden announced he would not seek reelection and endorsed Harris, Trump’s campaign quickly adapted to the new political landscape. Within hours, Trump’s team issued a strong statement linking Harris to Biden’s policies, and a pro-Trump super PAC secured advertising slots in crucial swing states to shape Harris’s image as someone who enabled a weakened Biden.
Trump’s campaign, initially focused on defeating Biden, faced the challenge of reconfiguring their strategy. Their previous efforts centered on defeating an aging Biden, with millions spent on battleground predictions, data operations, and advertising to contrast Biden with Trump. This meticulous preparation, aimed at exploiting Biden’s perceived vulnerabilities, now required a pivot to address Harris as the new potential opponent.
In the wake of Biden’s withdrawal, Trump’s campaign began intensifying their focus on Harris. They researched Democratic National Committee procedures for replacing Biden and began testing new attacks on Harris, who had largely been ignored before. These attacks became evident during the Republican National Convention, where Harris was heavily criticized.
Trump’s campaign is preparing a series of negative ads targeting Harris’s record, both from her tenure in the Biden administration and her previous roles as a prosecutor and attorney general in California. A pro-Trump super PAC, MAGA Inc., released a new ad accusing Harris of covering up Biden’s mental decline and praising his performance, which will air in key battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.
The Trump campaign plans to highlight Harris’s role in the Biden administration’s policies, including immigration and economic issues. They aim to connect Harris to the administration’s struggles, such as inflation and crime, portraying her as complicit in Biden’s failures. This strategy includes attacks on her handling of the border crisis and economic policies that have led to higher costs for housing and groceries.
There is uncertainty about how voters will react to a potential rematch of Trump versus Harris, given the public’s mixed feelings about both candidates. Harris has the potential to energize Democratic voters who were dissatisfied with Biden, possibly making traditionally safe states competitive again. Trump’s campaign must also be prepared for potential Democratic running mates who could influence swing states. Names like Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper have been considered as possible vice presidential picks, which could impact the race.
Overall, while Trump’s campaign was initially focused on Biden, it is now rapidly adjusting to the possibility of facing Harris, with an emphasis on shaping her public image and preparing for a new dynamic in the presidential race.