Kamala Harris, the Vice President, appears to be floundering in a desperate bid to paint Donald Trump as a loose cannon as Democrats anxiously gauge the steadily narrowing electoral margin merely two weeks ahead. To remind voters in pivotal regions why they previously dismissed Trump, Harris takes an aggressive stance, reflecting a significant change from her initial euphoric enthusiasm. The initial thrill marking her nomination as the Democratic Presidential candidate appears short-lived as she no longer seems content with just undermining Trump; instead, he emerges as a central figure in her campaign.
During an event in Ashwaubenon, Wis., Harris’s approach was visible as she directed attendees to two large TV screens, instructing, “Let’s roll a clip”. The attention of the crowd was captured with a 40-second montage of Trump boasting about approaches to overturn Roe v. Wade. Instead of focusing on crucial policy issues, Harris chose to resort to the public humiliation method, providing the crowd with reasons to boo at the previous president.
Harris’s campaign strategy now includes amplifying her criticism of Trump by highlighting his erratic decision-making and increasingly bizarre public statements, attempting to portray him as unfit and unstable. She hopes this aggressive approach will sway the indecisive voters, framing Trump as a doomed prospect for a future term. However, the utilization of such tactics suggests a serious lack of substantial policies and realistic solutions posed by Harris and her team.
At a recent rally in Grand Rapids, Mich., Harris offered some bold assertions about Trump, stating, “Donald Trump is an unserious man” and warned about the severe repercussions if he ever returned to the office. She conveniently failed to remark on the solid economic strides made during his tenure that reshaped the landscape of American business and amplified international respect for our nation.
In addition to her sharp denouncement of Trump’s character, Harris’s campaign has embarked on intensive outreach to crucial demographic sections that the Democrats hope to sway due to Trump’s contentious style and rhetoric. Instead of presenting her propositions to enhance these demographics’ lives, she seems focused on capitalizing on disagreements with Trump’s approach, a questionable tactic that seems to underestimate the intelligence and discernment of these voters.
Last week, she sought to attract Black male voters by issuing a series of policy pitches and interviews, theoretically reminding them of why they had rejected Trump earlier. Strikingly, it hints at a reversion to Biden’s initial approach of placing his administration in the shadow of Trump’s actions and statements, not on his administration’s achievements – a telling commentary on the value the Democrats assign to their governance.
But this shifting strategy contains a certain risk. There has been a notable sway in public sentiment towards Trump since his term ended, and he’s gaining new voter support groups, including Black and Latino males – demographics predicted to play a decisive role on Election Day. Trump maintains his confidence in this approach, despite its inability to be easily defined or simplified, a strategy his allies believe wholeheartedly will succeed.
However, Trump’s free-speaking, often extemporaneous approach has raised some concerns and given further ammunition to Harris’s campaign. From an unusual town hall performance to crude jokes in Pennsylvania, he remains eminently unpredictable. While this unpredictable approach may be a cause for concern, it adds a colorfulness, dynamism, and authenticity that Harris’s structured and often flat campaign fails to capture.
Throughout the last week, there have been repeated, intense attempts by Harris to depict Trump unfavorably, communicating her belief that portraying the opponent as unsatisfactory is the best campaign advantage. Arguably, this strategy may pay dividends in a contest with neck-to-neck competition, but we must wonder if such incessant negativity is truly the best way to appeal to swing voters.
Trump’s team remains steadfast in their quest for victory. John McLaughlin, Trump’s pollster, was even quoted arguing strong prospects for winning key swing states. Probably due to this confidence, Trump seems uninterested in tailoring his message to anyone who isn’t already a fervid follower. This simple, honest approach is a glaring contrast to the manipulative tactics of the Harris campaign.
Trump’s confidants have consistently encouraged him to stick to resonating issues such as the economy, inflation, and immigration. But these same allies harbor concerns that, as his speeches wander further from these issues and make personal digs at Harris, he may risk his standing among female voters. Surprisingly, Trump’s inclination to hold rallies in traditionally democratic states seems to be more about keeping himself entertained rather than strategic political positioning.
In addition to the political battle, Trump’s campaign is marred with potential legal implications. Failure to secure a win might expose him to the possibility of incarceration. With public sentiment about Trump broadly established, the task lies with Harris to prove her worthiness to the undetermined voters, which she has so far struggled with.
Harris, self-proclaimed underdog, continues to insist that she will draw in just enough undecided voters to pull off a victory. However, criticisms of her approach abound, with Republican strategist in Georgia, Stephen Lawson, questioning where her unique and forward-thinking ideas that will excite swing voters are. This points astonishingly to the void within Harris’s campaign narrative.
Despite all, Harris remains convinced of her impending victory, exhibiting perhaps an overconfidence or wishful thinking that doesn’t quite sync with her campaign’s reality or the political climate. The fact is that until the final vote is cast and counted, anything can happen – it’s anyone’s game to win or lose.