Trump’s campaign pivots to target Kamala Harris as her candidacy gains momentum.
WASHINGTON – As Kamala Harris surges in the race following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal and endorsement, Donald Trump’s campaign is launching a significant advertising blitz in an attempt to counter her growing voter enthusiasm. With a US$10 million ad buy across six battleground states, Trump’s team is focusing on Harris’s past liberal positions to portray her as an out-of-touch extreme liberal, particularly targeting voters in the Rust Belt.
This marks Trump’s biggest ad purchase since January, when he was still fighting off Republican challengers. The ads use Harris’s own words from interviews, events, and debates to amplify the narrative of her as a far-left candidate. Trump’s team is responding to the increased support Harris has garnered since Biden’s endorsement, especially from key Democratic groups and donors.
In parallel, a Trump-affiliated super PAC, MAGA Inc, has announced plans to spend US$32 million on ads in key states, intensifying the scrutiny of Harris’s record. While the Trump campaign attempts to define Harris before her message reaches voters, a Democratic super PAC, Future Forward, is countering with its own US$50 million ad push to support Harris in crucial swing states.
Harris’s campaign, buoyed by a recent fundraising surge, aims to combat the attacks by focusing on Trump’s legal challenges and portraying him as responsible for controversial Republican policies, including anti-abortion measures. Despite this, the upcoming months will be pivotal in shaping voter perceptions of the candidates.
