Harris zeroes in on Trump’s fitness as Election Day looms
In a tightening race just two weeks before Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris has shifted her campaign strategy to spotlight former President Donald Trump’s behavior and statements. Her goal? She aims to portray him as dangerous and unfit for a second term in the White House.
Harris is pulling no punches. At a recent rally in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, she pointed to large TV screens, saying, “See for yourself.” The screens lit up with clips of Trump bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade, drawing boos from the crowd.
The vice president’s new approach aims to remind voters why they rejected Trump four years ago. She’s using his own words as her sharpest weapons, highlighting what she sees as erratic behavior and outlandish statements.
“I do believe that Donald Trump is an unserious man,” Harris told a crowd in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “And the consequences of him ever getting back into the White House are brutally serious.”
This strategy shift comes as Harris struggles to overtake Trump’s lead on economic issues. Voters often rank the economy as their top concern. To counter this, her campaign is reaching out to key groups they believe are disenchanted with Trump’s divisive style.
Harris plans to woo suburban women and moderates in the coming days. Former Rep. Liz Cheney, the most prominent Republican, will join Harris in supporting her candidacy. Last week, she focused on connecting with black male voters through policy announcements and interviews.
The Harris campaign is blanketing battleground states with ads featuring Trump’s former advisers calling him “unstable.” They’re hoping to sway undecided voters in what polls show to be a dead-even race.
Trump, for his part, has been delivering lengthy, often rambling speeches that have worried some allies. He’s doubled down on threats against opponents and painted a dark picture of America’s future without him.
At a recent town hall, Trump spent nearly 40 minutes swaying silently on stage to his favorite songs. He finished the week in Pennsylvania with a crude joke about a famous golfer’s body parts and used vulgar language to refer to Harris.
The former president’s team projects confidence, with one pollster claiming they’ll likely win all seven swing states. But this bravado may be masking concerns about Trump’s undisciplined messaging.
Harris is seizing on these moments. She questioned Trump’s stamina, citing reports of his “exhaustion” from campaigning. She attacked his description of the January 6th Capitol attack as a “day of love.”
The vice president even took the fight to Trump’s turf, appearing on Fox News to cast him as “unfit” before a conservative audience.
“The American people are concerned about Donald Trump,” Harris said on Fox. “Even people who worked for him in the Oval Office and in the Situation Room have stated that he is unfit and dangerous and should never be president of the United States again.”
As Election Day nears, both campaigns are focusing on battleground states. Harris is framing the race as a choice between herself and an unacceptable opponent. Trump, meanwhile, seems less interested in tailoring his message to anyone but die-hard supporters.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. For Trump, a loss could mean facing jail time in his ongoing legal troubles. For Harris, it’s a chance to make history as the first woman and person of color to win the presidency.
With views on Trump largely set, Harris must prove herself to undecided voters. As she often says, she sees herself as the underdog. But she remains confident: “Make no mistake,” Harris told supporters in Michigan, “we will win.”