Vice-President Kamala Harris counters Trump’s attacks, framing her candidacy as a future-oriented choice.
On July 27, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris positioned herself as the “underdog” in the race for president, while also taking aim at her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, and his running mate, Senator J.D. Vance. Speaking at a fundraiser in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Harris described Trump’s rhetoric as “just plain weird” and reiterated her contrasting background as a prosecutor to his criminal record. She framed her campaign as a forward-looking effort, while criticizing Trump’s desire to return the nation to a “dark past.”
Her comments echoed a broader Democratic strategy that emphasizes Trump’s age and actions, with Harris’ campaign calling him “old and quite weird.” A supporter even attended her event holding a sign saying “Trump is weird,” underscoring the theme of the day.
At the same time, Trump, speaking at a rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota, fired back, attacking Harris and the Democrats. He labeled her as “evil,” “sick,” and “unhinged,” saying that under a potential Harris presidency, “the American dream is dead.” He also criticized President Biden’s exit from the race, calling it a “coup” orchestrated by the Democratic Party.
Despite Harris’ rise to the top of the Democratic ticket after Biden’s withdrawal, Trump continues to hold rallies across the country, including at a cryptocurrency conference in Nashville, where he promised to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the world.” His comments on the cryptocurrency industry marked a shift from his previous criticism of bitcoin as a “scam.”
Polls in Minnesota, a state that has not supported a Republican presidential candidate since 1972, had initially shown Trump leading over Biden. However, Harris’ sudden ascension has brought renewed energy to the Democratic side, with her campaign raising significant funds in the days following Biden’s decision to drop out. This has reinvigorated the Democrats as they head into the election season.
