Harris ramps up strategy for sprint to the election
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Kamala Harris' strategy for the 71-day sprint to the Nov. 5 election is built around a few key goals: Outwork Donald Trump, stay in the news, and campaign aggressively in states that could increase her paths to victory.
Why it matters: That's why the vice president is packing her campaign schedule this week, starting with a bus tour in southern Georgia. She'll also sit for her first interview as a presidential candidate and ramp up preparations for her Sept. 10 debate against Trump.
- Harris' team hopes to continue riding a wave of good vibes and encouraging polls coming out of the Democratic convention by keeping the pressure on Trump — and encouraging Americans to buy into her optimism while turning the page from Trump's divisiveness.
She has rolled out a few policy proposals to help first-time homeowners, the working class and others, but her senior advisers are tempering expectations that she'll put forward fully fleshed-out policy ideas before Election Day.
- Their reasoning: There's not enough time.
- Harris' late entry into the race has forced her team to set priorities, and Harris is calculating that her best move to counter Trump is to emphasize lofty ideals such as strength, decency, the rule of law and individual freedom.
- Her schedule appears aimed at increasing news coverage of her campaign that doesn't require spending on ads — even as her team is planning to dump $370 million on TV and digital ads between Labor Day and Election Day.
What we're watching: Besides the Georgia bus tour that will highlight one of the states she appears to have put in play for Democrats in the past month, Harris has another priority: the debate against Trump, which ABC News will host.
- Harris' team privately has been devising a debate strategy for dealing with what it expects to be a torrent of falsehoods from the former president.
- The vice president, who took part in a mock debate at Howard University before the Democratic convention, plans to do several more before the debate.
- A small group of aides is helping her prepare. They include policy advisers Brian Nelson and Rohini Kosoglu, and Harris' White House and campaign chiefs of staff Lorraine Voles and Sheila Nix.
Between the lines: Both sides see the debate as crucial moment that could change the trajectory of the race overnight.
- Trump's team is hoping for Harris to fumble in a viral moment, while Harris' team recognizes she needs a solid performance to solidify the idea that she can win in November.
Reality check: Harris's team knows it has to come up with a good answer for the "you've been in office for 3½ years" criticism that Republicans have used to tie her to the Biden administration's shortcomings.
Zoom in: Expanding the campaign's team and its voter outreach in swing states remains a priority, said Dan Kanninen, the Harris campaign's battleground states director.
- Kanninen says it's important to have "a place to put that energy" coming out of the Democratic convention.
What they're saying: Harris' campaign has been quick to call out Trump for false statements. But as for the debate, "I would let Trump be Trump," Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said when asked what advice he'd give Harris for her showdown against the former president.
- "I think Kamala Harris has the opportunity to remind people about what he did and show the risk that he poses in the future," Shapiro said.
- "She is a skilled debater. She will do that effectively."
