Three Strategies Trump Is Using to End Harris's Honeymoon
As the political climate in America reaches new heights of tension, Kamala Harris has so far enjoyed a relatively smooth transition into the limelight. This period, which Trump’s campaign pollster Tony Fabrizio dubs the “Harris Honeymoon,” is marked by a surge of positive media coverage and enthusiasm. However, honeymoons are ephemeral, and the real test lies ahead for Harris as Republicans shift their focus to her.
1. Labeling Harris a ‘Radical’ Leftist
During Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign, her alignment with the left became evident as she catered to Democratic primary voters. She backed policies like a government-run healthcare system, policing reforms that included redirecting law-enforcement funds, decriminalizing undocumented entry, and the Green New Deal. This shift is now being used against her by Republicans. Trump’s campaign has released a video titled “MEET SAN FRANCISCO RADICAL KAMALA Harris,” highlighting her previous stances. Conservative voices, like commentator Matt Walsh, suggest this approach as a blueprint for attacking Harris.
Democratic strategist Matt Bennett argues that Harris needs to demonstrate her capacity to evolve without compromising her core principles to maintain support from independents and undecided voters crucial in swing states.
2. Associating Harris with Biden’s Record
Harris’s vice-presidential role inevitably ties her to the successes and failures of the Biden administration. Despite economic growth and eased inflation, Biden’s immigration policies and support for Israel have drawn criticism. Republicans have already labeled her as the administration’s “border czar,” a misleading but impactful tag. Taylor Budowich, associated with Trump’s political action committee, announced a substantial investment in advertisements targeting Harris, emphasizing her perceived failures in this role.
Bennett suggests Harris can reframe the narrative by focusing on future aspirations, contrasting Trump’s backward-looking approach, thus differentiating herself from the Biden administration while addressing the challenges.
3. Criticizing Her Prosecutorial Record
Harris’s background as a prosecutor and California’s attorney general was a cornerstone of her presidential campaign. She positioned herself as a formidable opponent to Trump, leveraging her experience with “perpetrators of all kinds.” However, Trump’s campaign manager, Chris LaCivita, is known for turning a candidate’s strengths into weaknesses, as seen in the 2004 attacks on John Kerry’s military service. The strategy against Harris involves highlighting instances where she was either too harsh or too lenient as a prosecutor, aiming to weaken her support base and question her judgment.
Craig Varoga, a Democratic campaign consultant, believes Harris is prepared for these attacks, having learned from past Democratic missteps. He emphasizes the importance of a robust and strategic response to counter these narratives.
Defining Harris’s Future
Fabrizio’s memo emphasizes that Harris’s identity and record are immutable. The Republican strategy will focus on portraying her as a dangerous liberal aligned with Biden. Meanwhile, Harris’s campaign will aim to redefine her image and clarify her vision for the future. A crucial aspect of this will be her choice of vice-presidential running mate, which could signal her intent to govern from the center, potentially alleviating fears of a far-left agenda.
The coming months will be pivotal in shaping public perception of Harris, determining whether this honeymoon phase translates into a lasting partnership with the American electorate or ends in political disappointment for Democrats.
