Harris Ramps Up Anti-Trump Message as Campaign Closes \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ As her presidential campaign winds down, Kamala Harris is increasingly framing Donald Trump as a danger to democracy, echoing a strategy previously used by Joe Biden. In her final days, Harris aims to rally undecided voters and Trump-averse Republicans by focusing on Trump’s actions, particularly his role in the January 6 Capitol riot. She plans to deliver a closing argument at the Ellipse in Washington, a site closely tied to Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. While Harris has tried to address voters’ economic concerns, Trump’s looming threat remains a central part of her message.
Kamala Harris Focuses on Trump’s Threat to Democracy in Final Days: Quick Look
- Closing Strategy: Harris is emphasizing Trump’s danger to democratic institutions, drawing from Biden’s earlier playbook.
- Focus Location: She will deliver her closing argument at the Ellipse, where Trump incited supporters on January 6, 2021.
- Balancing Act: While attempting to address economic concerns, Harris increasingly talks about Trump’s autocratic ambitions.
- Republican Outreach: Harris has been appealing to Republicans who are uncomfortable with Trump, urging unity against his anti-democratic actions.
- Criticism: Trump’s camp dismisses her attacks as desperation, while others debate whether focusing solely on Trump is the right approach.
Deep Look:
Central to this strategy is Harris’ belief that framing Trump as an existential threat to American democracy can motivate her supporters and draw in voters who might be on the fence. While she continues to make promises to address kitchen-table issues such as the cost of groceries and housing, Harris has increasingly turned her attention to Trump’s role in the January 6 Capitol attack and his broader efforts to undermine democratic norms.
One of the most symbolic moments of Harris’ closing argument will come on Tuesday when she speaks from the Ellipse, the grassy area near the National Mall in Washington. This location is not accidental—it’s the same spot where Donald Trump urged his supporters to march on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a violent attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. By choosing this site, Harris is drawing a direct line between Trump’s past actions and the danger she says he still represents if returned to power.
In a recent speech, Harris starkly contrasted herself with Trump, painting a vivid picture of the former president as a man fixated on revenge and conspiracy, warning voters of what could lie ahead. “You have the choice of a Donald Trump, who will sit in the Oval Office stewing, plotting revenge, retribution, writing out his enemies list,” Harris said at an event in Philadelphia. “Or what I will be doing, which is responding to folks like the undecided voters from last night’s town hall — with a to-do list.”
Her reference was to a CNN town hall where undecided voters had pressed her on issues ranging from inflation to healthcare. While Harris has made attempts to connect with voters on these practical issues, her messaging has increasingly focused on Trump’s anti-democratic actions, particularly his downplaying of the January 6 riot as “a day of love.” She has also referred to a revelation that Trump’s former chief of staff allegedly described him as a fascist.
This intensifying focus on Trump mirrors Joe Biden’s own 2022 midterm election strategy, when he gave a speech in Washington warning of the dangers of Trump’s influence on the Republican Party and the future of American democracy. Like Biden, Harris is seeking to make democracy a central issue, hoping voters will be motivated by concerns about the nation’s democratic integrity rather than solely by economic or social issues.
However, as Harris ramps up her criticism of Trump, she has also tried to differentiate herself from Biden, promising a “new approach” if elected. While Biden was often criticized for being too focused on existential threats to democracy, sometimes at the expense of addressing everyday concerns, Harris has attempted to strike a balance, appealing to those worried about the economy while reinforcing the dangers posed by a second Trump term.
Trump’s popularity has remained relatively steady over the years, according to Gallup polling. While his approval rating dropped to 36% in the immediate aftermath of January 6, it has since rebounded, sitting at 46% as of last month. In contrast, Harris’ favorability rating has improved over the past few months, rising to 44% in September after hovering at 34% earlier in the summer. This surge in support came after she replaced Biden as the top Democratic candidate.
In her final push, Harris has enlisted notable figures to help amplify her message. She is set to campaign in Georgia alongside former President Barack Obama and legendary musician Bruce Springsteen. She will then head to Texas for an event with Beyoncé, focusing on abortion rights, an issue that has galvanized many Democratic voters since the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Political strategists have weighed in on Harris’ closing strategy, with some expressing skepticism about the heavy focus on Trump. Faiz Shakir, a political adviser to Senator Bernie Sanders, said that while attacking Trump is effective, it can feel overused. “They kind of have given up on, in my view, the argument of persuasion,” Shakir said, suggesting that Harris’ campaign is more focused on reminding voters of Trump’s faults than on defining her own vision.
As her campaign winds down, Harris faces the challenge of weaving together these two narratives: addressing the immediate concerns of American families while framing Trump as a dangerous threat to the country’s democratic values. Whether this strategy will resonate with voters remains to be seen, but for now, Harris appears to be leaning heavily on the belief that fear of Trump is enough to carry her across the finish line.
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