Trump's Campaign Shifts Focus to Harris as Election Enters Final Stretch
In the final weeks of the presidential race, Trump's team aims to undermine Kamala Harris's popularity. With both candidates facing challenges, the campaign intensifies in key battleground states.
As the 2024 presidential election enters its final nine weeks, Donald Trump's campaign has shifted its focus to undermining Kamala Harris's popularity. This strategic pivot comes as recent polls show Harris with a more favorable rating compared to the former president.
An ABC News/Ipsos poll revealed that 46% of likely voters viewed Harris favorably, while only 33% held a positive view of Trump. This stark contrast has prompted Trump's advisers to concentrate their efforts on damaging Harris's image, as they see little opportunity to improve Trump's standing.
Republican strategists are investing heavily in attack ads targeting Harris. Data from AdImpact shows that 57% of television spending by campaigns and allied super PACs between August 23 and August 29 were attacks on Harris. In contrast, only 8% of ads were anti-Trump.
Harris's campaign, led by manager Jen O'Malley Dillon, is focusing on key issues such as democracy, abortion, health care, and gun violence. The campaign aims to expand Harris's support by contrasting her positions with Trump's on these topics.
"Same old tired playbook. Next question, please."
Harris has largely avoided engaging with Trump's personal attacks, instead emphasizing her experience and values. This approach aligns with the strategy outlined by Democratic political strategist David Axelrod, who praised Harris's handling of personal criticisms.
The Trump campaign faces internal tensions regarding their approach to attacking Harris. While many advisers prefer focusing on policy positions, Trump often relies on his instincts and personal attacks. This has led to concerns among Republicans that Trump's controversial statements could be more damaging than any attacks on Harris.
As the campaign intensifies, both sides are targeting key battleground states. Georgia and Pennsylvania are considered crucial, with Trump leading slightly in Georgia and Harris holding a small advantage in Pennsylvania. Campaign spending reflects the importance of these states, with Pennsylvania seeing the highest investment in television ads from both parties.
The Harris campaign is banking on a large turnout operation, with 2,000 staff across 312 offices in core battleground states. In contrast, the Trump campaign is relying on 18,000 trained volunteers to mobilize voters.
As the campaign enters its final phase, both candidates are preparing for the September 10 debate. Additionally, the start of the voting season is approaching, with the first mail ballots going out to North Carolina voters in early September.
With the race expected to be extremely close, both campaigns are intensifying their efforts to secure victory in what promises to be a highly contested election.
