Trump gets aggressive, sets relentless pace ahead of post-Labor Day sprint
Former President Donald Trump uses a tried and true strategy to dull Vice President Kamala Harris’ post-convention glow. He goes full workhorse.
To prove that age is only a number, 78-year old candidate, has increased his visits to battleground states. He also sat for interviews with popular podcasters, and boosted his presence on X.com, the social media platform he used previously to avoid mainstream media.
Once again, his tweets dominate the TV talk shows as he launches personal attacks on Ms. Harris and her political opponents including the Department of Justice.
“While Kamala Harris has been hiding in safe places and has avoided the media for 38 days President Trump and Senator Vance are barnstorming the country and have maintained an aggressive campaign calendar, as well as sat for multiple interviews,” said Trump’s campaign spokesperson Karoline Levitt.
|
Dana Bash, CNN’s Dana Bash will interview Ms. Harris on Thursday. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, will be by her side.
In their TV appearances and events, Mr. Trump & Mr. Vance have been working to portray Ms. Harris in a negative light as someone who is not trustworthy. They reject the idea that Ms. Harris is prepared to take on the most important challenges facing the country, given the fact that she has retreated from the media for the past three years and been President Biden’s sidekick.
Leavitt said that she predicted the “honeymoon” would end soon as more Americans realized how dangerously liberal Kamala Harris is.
The assertiveness of Mr. Trump’s approach is a significant departure from the early August period when he and his campaign were grappling with the historic shakeup at the top level of the Democratic Party and trying to figure out how to best handle Ms. Harris.
This also distances him further from the disappearance of Ms. Harris.
Steve Mitchell, Republican Party strategist in Michigan, said: “He shows courage and the ability to withstand the scrutiny of the media by being everywhere.” “He is doing this to contrast himself with his opponent who appears to be afraid to speak to anyone and will not even do an CNN interview without the security blanket of her vice presidential candidate.
Mitchell stated that “he is trying to smoke out her to get her more interviews, because he hopes she will become, like one person called her on the street the other day, “Lettuce Head” — only speaking in lettuces and word salads.”
Nine weeks before the election, Ms. Harris is gaining momentum in her race.
She has raised $540m, including $82m during the Democratic National Convention last week in Chicago.
John Feehery, Republican Party strategist, said that Mr. Trump still has time to alter the course of the race.
Feehery stated that “no matter what the intelligent people say, elections really begin after Labor Day.” It makes perfect sense that he would go all out now.
He said that Mr. Trump has mastered the art of dominating earned-media and will continue to use this advantage.
Feehery stated that “Kamala may have the media on their side, but Trump is the best at playing the media.” “He is relentless.”
Ms. Harris is facing mounting criticism – fed by Mr. Trump and his allies, as well as a frustrated Washington media corps – over her refusal of engaging with the newsmedia, expanding on her policy views, and interacting with voters in a less choreographed way.
On Wednesday, Harris made her first return to the campaign trail since the Chicago convention with a tour by bus of southern Georgia. The tour culminates in a rally and CNN interview at Savannah.
On Monday, she will be appearing in Pittsburgh and Detroit for a Labor Day event.
Last week, Mr. Trump visited Pennsylvania to discuss the economic situation, Michigan to address crime and safety issues, North Carolina to speak about national security, Arizona for the border, and Nevada to promote the pledge to not tax tips.
He began his week by speaking at the National Guard Association conference in Detroit.
There, he was endorsed by former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabrield. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had jumped on the Trump train days earlier.
Mr. Trump will return to Michigan to discuss the manufacturing, economy and inflation at a metal services center on Thursday. He will also hold a town-hall event in Wisconsin.
He will then hold a rally before traveling to Washington, where he will speak at the “Joyful Warrior Summit” hosted by Moms for Liberty.
Kevin Sheridan, Republican Party strategist, said that the Trump campaign’s aggressive approach comes with both risks and rewards.
He said that on one hand it “cement[s] the idea that your band is the hardest-working on the scene” and on the flip side, “the downside is going off message in your fifth rally of a week and losing some media cycles.”
He said that “it’s only a secondary issue but could be important in a close race when Kamala or Walz are hidden.”
