In a strategic move to broaden her appeal, Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign has been actively courting endorsements from prominent Republicans. This effort, spearheaded by campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon, aims to win over Republican-leaning and independent voters who oppose Donald Trump but hesitate to support a Democrat.
The campaign's outreach culminated in a significant endorsement from Liz Cheney, the former Wyoming Representative. Cheney, a staunch conservative, publicly backed Harris at Duke University, stating:
"I'm supporting Vice President Harris because of the danger that Donald Trump poses."
Two days later, Cheney's father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, also announced his support for Harris, adding weight to the endorsement.
The Harris campaign has been methodically cultivating relationships with anti-Trump Republicans. They hired Austin Weatherford, former chief of staff to Adam Kinzinger, as the national director for Republican engagement. Additionally, Maria Comella, who has worked for various Republican officials, joined the campaign to help make the case to conservative voters.
These efforts have yielded results beyond the Cheneys. Alberto Gonzales, former Attorney General under George W. Bush, publicly declared his support for Harris. Moreover, over 100 former national security officials from Republican administrations signed a letter endorsing Harris and deeming Trump unfit for office.
The campaign's strategy reflects the changing political landscape since Trump first secured the Republican nomination in 2016. Many lifelong Republicans have criticized Trump, with some choosing to vote for Democrats or leave the GOP entirely.
However, the effectiveness of these endorsements remains uncertain. Trump's campaign dismisses them, with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stating that "rational Americans" realize the country was better off under Trump's leadership.
Despite this, the Harris campaign believes that in a tight race, these endorsements could sway crucial votes in key states. They hope to create a "permission structure" for conservative-leaning voters to support a Democrat.
The outreach extends beyond official campaign efforts. Anti-Trump Republicans like Sarah Longwell, Bill Kristol, and Tim Miller have been actively promoting potential endorsers to the Democratic campaign.
Some endorsements have been organic, such as Jimmy McCain's, son of former Senator John McCain. McCain reached out to the Harris campaign after a controversial incident at Arlington National Cemetery involving Trump campaign workers.
As the election approaches, the Harris campaign continues to feature Republican voices, including at the Democratic National Convention. While the impact of these endorsements remains to be seen, they represent a unique aspect of the current political climate, where party lines are increasingly blurred in the face of perceived threats to democracy.