As former president fails to land attacks against Harris campaign, advisers hope to capitalize on upcoming debate
Donald Trump’s campaign insists that they’re pursuing multiple strategies against Kamala Harris, but the true picture that is emerging is that the Trump senior advisers’ grand plan, for now, is to pray that the former US president has a good night at the presidential debate next month.
The game plan, in other words, has become one of hoping that Trump wins the debate so they can regain momentum – a stunning approach that shows the serious predicament for Trump and his campaign as he struggles to find ways to land effective attacks against the vice-president just months before the election.
What has happened internally in the Trump campaign in recent weeks is the realization that nothing they do in the period up to the debate is likely to cut through in a significant way that blunts Harris’s gains that have her level in key swing state polls, according to people close to the matter.
And because they don’t think the messaging will cut through, senior advisers are left hoping that Trump can energize voters with his performance on stage, the people said.
She's a former prosecutor. He's a compulsive liar, misogynist and racist former reality TV star with dementia who isn't used to being told to wait his turn before he can speak.
Trump came very close to winning in 2020. Progress is good, but we have a very long way to go, and an alarming number of Americans who still support him.
People developing some real blinkered views of the trustworthiness of prosecutors, all of a sudden. John Corbyn, Greg Abbott, and Ken Paxton are all current/former AGs and they lie like it's breathing.
They're saying that speaking in a formal setting to convince people of stuff was literally her whole deal for 90% of her career, not that she won't lie.
Trustworthiness is not even slightly what people mean by that. What they're talking about is her having exceptional debating skills because that's what you do in a courtroom.
It’s about being able to form cogent arguments and rebuttals while publicly speaking.
This isn't Lincoln-Douglas at the Harvard Yacht Club. People aren't tuning in to make up their minds.
Modern presidential debates are just nationally syndicated The Dozens. People tune in to heckle the people they hate and cheer the ones they love.
Past that, which debate in Harris's last nine years on the national stage made her look cogent? She's been at this since 2015. Her claim to fame right now is "You didn't just fall out of a coconut tree" followed by nervous laughter.
Who should Americans vote for president in November?
I'm being told it all rides on this next televised shouting match, so I guess we'll have to watch the debate to find out.
You know exactly where both Trump and Harris stand on issues.
Then why do we care about the results of the debate? You want to see Brat Girl Kamala deliver Epic Owns on Trump because... it makes you feel good? Or because you think it will actually win over voters?
There is a stark difference between the two candidates.
There's certainly a stark difference in their marketing.
But if you really want to play this game, do you pledge to tell me who you believe people should vote for when the debate is over?
I'm saving my decision for Voting Day. Last month Kamala wasn't even at the top of the ticket. How can I tell you who I'm going to vote for when Demolition Ranch has millions of subscribers and Trump is still doing public speaking events?
She’s a former prosecutor. He’s a compulsive liar, misogynist and racist former reality TV star with dementia who isn’t used to being told to wait his turn before he can speak.