Vice President Kamala Harris is embarking on a multi-day campaign tour to drum up support in swing states, a move that seems born out of desperation as she prepares to do battle with former President Donald Trump after their recent debate. Dubbed the “New Way Forward” tour, it’s clear that the Democrats are pulling out all the stops with a mix of television ads, rallies, and canvassing events—all aimed at winning over those elusive voters who may have taken a wrong turn in 2020 and ended up in the Trump camp.
Kicking off this tour just in time to align with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, Harris is pulling the classic political playbook move of targeting voters with appealing messaging. The campaign’s strategy appears to revolve around scrounging for every last vote in a tight race that seems to hinge on whether people will choose to support her approach—or, heaven forbid, remember how things were under Trump. Early voting starts soon, and the clock is ticking for Harris to get her message in people’s faces—if they can be distracted long enough from the truth about her record.
Harris campaign plans for aggressive outreach in swing states after Tuesday's debate with Trump https://t.co/LoKCl3Y7Wi
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 8, 2024
It’s amusing how Harris’s campaign insists it will “take the vice president’s message directly to the voters wherever they are.” What that really means is that they will be bombarding swing states with carefully crafted ads that make grand promises about middle-class tax cuts and lowering prescription drug prices. One can’t help but wonder how these ads will reflect on her past legislative actions—or lack thereof—as they try to convince the public that they mean business this election cycle.
Meanwhile, Trump is not sitting idly by, either. While Harris holds her little rallies, Trump is hitting the campaign trail hard, continuing his outreach strategy and making headlines by hinting that those who commit election-related wrongdoings will face unprecedented consequences should he reclaim the presidency. Just imagine how the Democrats will spin that, branding it as some sort of “intimidation tactic,” while simultaneously ignoring their own party’s controversies.
As for the tour logistics, Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, is set to cover several key states, which seems like an elaborate attempt to give their campaign a family-friendly vibe. He will visit various states while Harris focuses on swing states like North Carolina and Pennsylvania. In the meantime, they’re financing this endeavor with an eye-popping $370 million media blitz, sure to shower airwaves with their hopeful revisionist history of the last few years.
In the mad scramble for votes before the Nov. 5 election, the Democrats are clearly reliant on flashy slogans and political theater. If they really believe they can erase the memories of soaring inflation and a struggling economy merely by slinging mud at Trump and plastering ads claiming to care about the middle class, they may be in for a rude awakening come Election Day.