On Saturday, Donald Trump launched a new series of personal attacks against Kamala Harris, coinciding with fresh polling that shows her making huge strides in key battleground states ahead of next week’s Democratic National Convention.
At a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump initially criticized Harris for contributing to “devastating” inflation, a major campaign issue. However, he soon deviated from his prepared remarks, deriding Harris’s laugh, and labeling her a “communist” and a “lunatic.” He also took aim at a TIME magazine portrait of Harris, asserting that he is “much better looking than her.”
Trump disregards teleprompter guidance, intensifying personal insults against Harris
Trump’s advisors and Republican figures have publicly urged him to focus on policy rather than personal attacks, believing that such behavior could alienate undecided and independent voters crucial for the November 5 election. Nevertheless, Trump remains committed to his confrontational style.
During his speech, Trump disregarded teleprompter guidance, veering into a tirade of insults against Harris. He dismissed suggestions to temper his language, reinforcing his stance with comments like, “But that’s what she is, she’s a lunatic.”
The dynamics of the White House race have shifted since President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal on July 21, with Harris’s swift entry revitalizing the Democratic base. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll indicates Harris is now leading in Arizona and North Carolina and closing the gap in Nevada and Georgia.
At the Wilkes-Barre rally, Trump criticized Harris’s opposition to fracking, a contentious issue in Pennsylvania, while also reflecting on his debate performance and offering tangential anecdotes.
Polls suggest that swing states like Pennsylvania, where Trump narrowly lost to Biden in 2020 but maintains strong rural support, will be pivotal. Last week’s New York Times/Siena poll indicated Harris is slightly ahead in Pennsylvania and other northern battlegrounds such as Michigan and Wisconsin.
Harris is set to campaign in Pennsylvania on Sunday before heading to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. There, she will aim to build on her recent momentum, culminating in a speech on Thursday to accept the party nomination.
As Election Day nears, Harris seeks to distinguish herself from Biden’s less popular policies while preemptively countering Trump’s efforts to paint her as a liberal extremist. Trump, meanwhile, has criticized Harris’s proposal for a federal ban on price-gouging, suggesting it mirrors communist policies. Harris, addressing inflation concerns, emphasized that while the U.S. economy is thriving, many Americans are not yet feeling its benefits.
