Although we’re in the final weeks of the 2024 presidential campaign, you could be forgiven for thinking 2023 once again. That’s because Vice President Kamala Harris has largely settled on a closing campaign message that sounds a lot like the idea that President Joe Biden made central to his campaign: that Donald Trump presents an existential threat to American democracy.
That’s the message he hammered home on Wednesday, according to reports the atlantic And The New York Times Whereas Trump’s former chief of staff, John Kelly, said – on the record – that Trump is “definitely an authoritarian, admires dictators”, “fits the general definition of a fascist” and once said he “needs the kind of general that Hitler had.”
At a news conference from his official residence in Washington, DC, on Wednesday afternoon, Harris argued that the reports were “more proof to the American people of who Donald Trump really is… We know what Donald Trump wants. He wants unchecked power.” He followed that up with a similar hit on Trump at a town hall Wednesday night CNNClearly stated that he considers Trump a “fascist” and believes that voters “care about our democracy” and that “the United States has never had a president who admires dictators and is a fascist.”
This shift in tone represents a change, but it isn’t an anomaly. After a “brat summer” of good vibes, memes and uplifting messages about “no turning back,” Harris’ messages over the past few weeks have struck a serious tone about Trump’s threats.
Last week on Fox News, he called out Trump Comment This month is about protecting the U.S. from “enemies from within” and the potential need to handle those perceived enemies “if necessary, by the National Guard or military forces.”
Then on NBC News this weekHarris painted the election as an opportunity for voters to choose “We are a country that values a president who honors his duty to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Donald Trump has said he will repeal the Constitution of the United States.” And next weekHarris is expected to make the same argument in his final case to the American people from the National Mall.
Why transfer?
For Biden, this “threat to democracy” argument seemed like an attempt to rally the Democratic base, instill a sense of urgency in his unpopular re-election bid, and hopefully the anti-Trump force that fueled his 2020 victory and Democratic victory in 2018. And the 2022 midterms could fuel a final rejection of Trump. it was “Dobbs and Democracy“The strategy — a premise to remind people that Trump is responsible for the loss of national abortion protections and that he has repeatedly ignored Democratic norms during his tenure. Based on Biden. VotingThat message was not work.
Harris’ recent return to the Democratic message appears to be a response to the closeness of the presidential race in battleground states. According to VotingHe has been unable to make much inroads with independents or continue to make gains with swing-state voters after an initial burst of support after taking his party’s nomination. Those states have a small portion of undecided voters left — so nudging the edge of Trump’s support could make all the difference.
This is partly why these appeals to preserve democracy are being made before moderate and disaffected Republican audiences. Beginning with an event in September with former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney — where Cheney said that as “someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution” he supported Harris “because of the danger of Donald Trump” — Harris has a multi-state campaign swing particularly moderate. Republicans are aiming to cross party lines and support Harris’ bid.
Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, summed up that strategy Tuesday night when to question by The Daily Show Host Jon Stewart about Harris’ embrace of Cheney.
“On the constitutional side, there are a lot of people. I think Liz Cheney and Dick Cheney have allowed people who want to find a reason to do the right thing,” Walz said.
per reporting from Associated PressHarris’ team considers such appeals and reminders of Trump’s extreme rhetoric — such as running digital ads that highlight Trump’s rebranding of Jan. 6 as “Day of Love” —About 10% of voters in battleground states” who may be persuaded because they are undecided or soft Trump supporters.
The undecideds will continue to fall as we get closer to Election Day — and the results will reveal just how successful Harris’ strategy has been.
