The early stages of the White House race are unfolding smoothly for Vice President Kamala Harris, but this “honeymoon” period may not last as former President Trump prepares to counterattack.
Tony Fabrizio, a campaign pollster for former President Donald Trump, refers to this moment as the “honeymoon” phase for Vice President Kamala Harris. The media spotlight and positive momentum are currently giving the Democratic Party a significant boost in the election race.
Right now, Harris’s campaign and the Democratic Party are likely celebrating the strong start and hopeful outlook for the November election. At 59, Harris is significantly younger than Trump, full of energy and enthusiasm. She also brings a strong legal background as a former prosecutor and state attorney general, contrasting sharply with Trump’s ongoing legal troubles.
However, observers suggest that after the initial surprise of President Joe Biden stepping aside to support Harris, the Republican Party is working diligently to identify and exploit weaknesses in Harris as the new candidate.
One primary angle of attack for Trump and the Republicans is Harris’s unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2019. Harris announced her candidacy in the Democratic primary but quickly faltered and ultimately failed against Biden.
Harris’s campaign at the time was criticized for lacking a clear message, experiencing internal discord, and facing several missteps during interviews. She also made a sudden shift to the left to appeal to Democratic primary voters.
“That campaign team was under tremendous pressure. Competing in a primary election involves very different political priorities compared to the final sprint in a presidential election,” said Matt Bennett, Vice President for External Affairs at the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way.
During the 2019 debates and interviews, Harris supported eliminating private health insurance in favor of a government-run system. She praised police reform, including reallocating law enforcement budgets to other priorities.
Harris advocated for decriminalizing illegal border crossings into the U.S. and called for the dissolution of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She also supported the Green New Deal environmental legislation and opposed fracking and offshore drilling.
Four years later, these stances could become significant vulnerabilities for her against the Republicans, according to observers.
David McCormick, a Republican Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, swiftly produced a TV ad targeting Kamala Harris’s 2019 views.
Trump and his campaign team released a video titled “Meet Radical San Francisco Kamala Harris,” highlighting many of the policies she supported at that time.
Conservative commentator Matt Walsh described this as a “preliminary blueprint” for how the GOP plans to intensify its attacks on the Vice President.
“She can argue that good leaders often shift their policy positions without changing their principles. None of her principles have changed,” said Democratic strategist Matt Bennett.
If Harris’s argument doesn’t resonate, she might lose support from undecided independent voters, crucial for winning key battleground states.
Polls show Biden’s campaign has faced several challenges recently. His immigration policies have received criticism. Despite falling inflation and economic growth, many voters blame his administration for high living costs. His steadfast support for Israel in the Gaza conflict has also eroded young voter support.
Analysts suggest that as Vice President, Harris will be tied to Biden’s policies, whether they are viewed favorably or not.
The GOP is attempting to link immigration issues to Harris, citing her past statements, particularly her 2022 interview assertion that “the U.S. border is secure.”
“Kamala Harris is now known as an unpopular, ineffective vice president who backstabbed her boss to get the nomination. But voters know it could get worse,” said Taylor Budowich, head of a Trump-aligned political committee, announcing a $32 million investment in TV ads targeting Harris.
According to strategist Bennett, Harris can’t completely distance herself from Biden’s policies but can cast them in a more favorable light.
“She can turn these policies into a vision for the future, something the 81-year-old leader before her couldn’t do. She can also argue that Trump is stuck in the past,” Bennett said.
In her first campaign rally, Harris unveiled her strategy to attack Trump. She highlighted her background as a prosecutor and California Attorney General, stating she has faced “all types of criminals.”
“So trust me when I say I know what kind of person Donald Trump is,” she said.
Craig Varoga, a Democratic campaign advisor and adjunct professor at American University, described Harris’s law enforcement background as her “superpower,” which she didn’t fully leverage in her 2019 campaign.
However, Trump’s campaign has also shown their counter-strategy. Chris LaCivita, Trump’s campaign manager, is known for turning opponents’ strengths into weaknesses.
Trump advisors are likely preparing attacks on Harris’s record as a prosecutor, turning her experience against her.
On one hand, they criticize her for being too harsh in prosecutions, particularly against Black men with drug offenses, aiming to weaken her support base among Black voters. On the other hand, they highlight cases where Harris chose not to prosecute or granted pardons to individuals who later reoffended.
Republican pollster Fabrizio stated that Harris “cannot change who she is or what she has done.” He emphasized that voters will soon view her as Biden’s “co-pilot” and will scrutinize her “dangerous record” as a prosecutor.
Campaign ads, public statements, and direct attacks from Trump will form the spearhead of the Republican offensive, analysts suggest.
Meanwhile, Harris and her campaign will strive to convey who she is and what she stands for to the voters. According to Varoga, a particularly effective way to do this is by selecting a suitable running mate.
“This is the first real decision a presidential candidate showcases to the public. It will help people understand the future policy direction she intends to pursue,” he said.
If Harris chooses a moderate running mate, it could reassure voters that she is committed to a centrist stance, countering the “far-left” image that Republicans are trying to paint of her.
In the coming weeks, the battle to define Harris through her past words and actions will significantly shape public perception as they head to the polls in November.
It will determine whether the Democratic honeymoon ends in heartbreak or extends for the next four years,” remarked Anthony Zurcher, a BBC analyst.
