Kamala Harris is shaping a new narrative for her campaign while Donald Trump faces challenges.
Trump has revived his 2016 strategy, targeting Harris, a relative newcomer to politics, since his 2020 defeat.
Trump’s campaign launched a new 30-second ad criticizing Harris for alleged failures in securing the southern border on the 30th. The ad begins with footage of Harris dancing at a festival and lists over 10 million illegal crossings, rising crime rates, and increased fentanyl influx.
It asserts that Harris “Harris is dangerously liberal, and Americans are paying the price,” echoing Trump’s 2016 immigration critique of Hillary Clinton in 2016, which intensified during President Joe Biden’s administration.
Trump has shifted focus from Harris’s personal record to the broader Democratic establishment’s record, framing it as a collective responsibility.
During rallies, Trump criticized Harris, claiming she failed as the Biden administration’s border czar.
In response, Harris emphasizes her strengths and counters Trump’s claims, setting up a clear candidate-versus-candidate dynamic.
On the same day, Harris’s campaign released a one-minute spot titled “Fearless.”
The ad highlights Harris’s over 20+ years as a California prosecutor, showcasing her battles against Wall Street and pharmaceutical giants.
In contrast, Harris critiqued Trump’s tax cuts for billionaires and corporate dismantling of Obamacare, saying, “This campaign is about who we fight for—the American people.”
Harris positions herself as advocating for justice for the vulnerable, contrasting with Trump’s alignment with the powerful and the wealthy.
Earlier in her campaign, Harris emphasized her experience as a prosecutor. She highlighted that she had taken on “perpetrators of all kinds,” including those who abuse women, exploit consumers, commit fraud, and engage in deceitful behavior.
This sets her in direct opposition to Trump, who is currently facing criminal charges in four cases with one conviction.
Trump’s campaign struggles with the sharp contrast in clarity and aggressiveness between the election frames.
In a recent Fox News interview, Trump evaded questions about an upcoming TV debate with Harris, stating, “I want to do a debate. But I also can say this. Everybody knows who I am. And now people know who she is.”
Republican Vice President candidate J.D. Vance commented at a Minnesota fundraising event on the 21st, “Harris does not have the same baggage as Joe Biden.”
He added, “Kamala is a lot younger. And Kamala Harris is obviously not struggling in the same ways that Joe Biden did,” indicating the challenge of finding effective attack points against her.
He continued, “Everybody has an opinion about Donald Trump and Joe Biden… But Kamala Harris, people don’t really know.”
Uncertainty extends Trump’s campaign beyond Harris.
Harris has yet to name her running mate, while Trump’s campaign addresses rumors about Vance.
This atmosphere is reflected in the approval ratings.
Reuters and Ipsos surveyed 1,025 American adults from the 26th to the 28th, showing Harris’s 43% favorability among registered voters compared to Trump’s 42%.
Similarly, a Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll the previous day among 1,750 American adults showed Harris’s support at 45%, with Trump’s at 43%.
Morning Consult’s survey of 10,538 registered voters from the 26th to the 28th indicated that Harris received 47% support and Trump received 46%.
Analysts anticipate additional support and framing effects once Harris announces her running mate.
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