By Nathan Layne, Tim Reid, Alexandra Ulmer and James Oliphant
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Donald Trump’s marketing campaign and a few of his allies have launched a pre-emptive political strike on Vice President Kamala Harris, transferring swiftly to attempt to discredit her amid discuss amongst a few of her fellow Democrats that she may change President Joe Biden atop the celebration’s 2024 presidential ticket.
On social media and in a flurry of statements over the previous 48 hours, Trump’s marketing campaign and his Republican allies look like laying the groundwork for an all-out assault on Harris ought to the 81-year-old Biden determine to finish his re-election bid following his feeble debate efficiency final week.
Whereas Biden has insisted he’s not quitting the race 4 months earlier than the Nov. 5 election, and Harris has stood firmly behind him, the Trump marketing campaign has little to lose by attacking the vice chairman now, in order that if Harris does emerge because the nominee, she may achieve this in a weakened state.
Republicans have repeatedly criticized Harris, 59, throughout Biden’s time period in workplace, however the assaults this week represented a pointy and seemingly coordinated escalation that seemed to be linked to elevated speak about her probably changing Biden because the Democratic presidential candidate.
The Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee, which oversees Home Republican races, referred to as her Biden’s “enabler in chief.”
MAGA Inc, a fundraising tremendous PAC supporting Trump, launched an announcement calling her the “invasion czar.” In March 2021 Biden stated Harris would lead efforts with Mexico and Central American nations to handle unlawful immigration.
Republicans have seized on that to accuse her of failing to stem the circulation of hundreds of thousands of migrants crossing illegally into america, though she was by no means immediately answerable for securing the southern border.
“Kamala Harris is incompetent. She’s confirmed to be the weakest, worst vice chairman in historical past, and she or he has 100% supported Joe Biden in each single disastrous coverage that he has carried out over the past 4 years,” stated Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump marketing campaign.
Trump disparaged Harris in a video recorded at certainly one of his golf programs, revealed by The Day by day Beast on Wednesday, saying Harris was “so dangerous, she’s so pathetic” earlier than utilizing an expletive to explain her.
Biden marketing campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika stated, “No, Donald. What’s dangerous is taking away ladies’s rights; What’s dangerous is dropping an election and inspiring a violent mob to assault the Capitol.”
In a extra public assault, Trump took to his Reality Social social media platform on Thursday to mock Harris for her poor efficiency within the Democratic primaries in 2020 whereas calling her a “extremely gifted politician.”
PROUD RUNNING MATE
The Biden marketing campaign pushed again towards the escalating Republican criticism of Harris with out addressing the query of whether or not the vice chairman is ready within the wings.
“Vice President Harris is proud to be President Biden’s working mate,” stated Rhyan Lake, a marketing campaign spokesperson for Harris. “It doesn’t matter what false assaults Trump and his excessive allies make, she is going to proceed to defend the Biden-Harris report and prosecute the case towards Donald Trump.”
The swipes at Harris by Trump’s camp have been harking back to an analogous tactic that the Republican Trump, president from 2017-2021, used to efficiently undermine Ron DeSantis, his essential Republican rival, earlier than the Florida governor jumped into their celebration’s 2024 election major race final 12 months.
Corey Lewandowski, a longtime Trump adviser, instructed Reuters Harris was politically susceptible given her position in addressing unlawful immigration, amongst different points which can be a part of intensive analysis the celebration has gathered on her report.
TRUMP’S UNUSUAL SILENCE
A former senior staffer within the Trump White Home who remains to be involved with the Trump marketing campaign stated the newfound emphasis on Harris made sense.
“If Joe Biden stays on high of the ticket, given what we have seen, she takes on much more significance. But when he does step apart, she’s the potential candidate. That is about defining her,” the staffer stated, pointing to her low approval scores in public opinion polls.
Regardless of her low scores, a Reuters/Ipsos ballot earlier this week confirmed Harris to be as formidable an opponent to Trump as Biden. In a hypothetical matchup, Trump led Harris by a single proportion level, 43% to 42%.
Even earlier than the June 27 debate, the Trump marketing campaign was starting to show its consideration to Harris, releasing an assault advert on-line that mocked her for repeating traces in her speeches.
An internet meme promoted by Republicans confirmed Harris repeating the identical phrase “unburdened by what has been” many times in remarks.
Harris’ defenders say she has grow to be extra of a goal due to her main position in attacking Trump over abortion rights and her vigorous protection of Biden on the marketing campaign path.
If Biden have been to exit the race earlier than the Democratic Nationwide Conference in August, there isn’t any assure Harris could be the nominee. However as vice chairman, she doubtless could be first in line. She would profit from Biden’s immense marketing campaign warfare chest and sure see a big section of Democrats rally round her in a bid to keep away from a bitter intra-party battle.
And because the first Black vice chairman in U.S. historical past, she gives a bridge to the celebration’s most reliable voting bloc. Her background and relative youth would make for a pointy distinction with Trump, 78.
