Former President Trump changes campaign to confront Kamala Harris

2024-07-25 18:59:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

In the presidential campaign of the United States, Republican candidate Donald Trump is facing another opponent after the withdrawal of President Joe Biden from the race. VOA Correspondent Scott Stearns reports on the ways former President Trump's team is changing the campaign for the potential showdown with Vice President Kamala Harris. Meanwhile, the latter is expected to choose its candidate for the post of Vice President within August 7.

Republicans realized that the pressure of the Democrats on President Joe Biden was leading to the withdrawal of his candidacy from the election race. When he announced his departure, they acted immediately.

"If you've ever wondered how Joe Biden could do so much damage to the border, remember he wasn't alone," one Republican ad said.

They shifted criticism to Vice President Kamala Harris, blaming her for the increase in illegal immigration.

The advert continues with Ms Harris saying: “I have been working on this issue for a long time.

"This is the truth about Kamala Harris. She has dangerously liberal views on illegal immigration,” the ad continues.

At her first rally as the presumptive Democratic nominee, Ms. Harris was ready with a counterattack, reminding voters of her work as a prosecutor.

"In those roles I dealt with criminals of all kinds. With those who abused women, with fraudsters who rob consumers, with fraudsters who break the rules for their own benefit. I know the type of Donald Trump," said Vice President Harris.

Ms. Harris' candidacy marks a resurgence in the race that former President Trump was leading, said Brookings Institution government studies expert Darrell West.

"She will be a strong candidate in key states for the election race like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. I think it will increase the Democrats' chances of victory in some of the controversial states where support for them had begun to fade, such as in Arizona," says Mr. West.

Republican candidate Trump, as is often the case with new rivals, began to poke fun at Ms. Harris.

"Have you seen how she laughs? She is crazy. You can tell a lot about people by the way they laugh. She is crazy," said Mr. Trump.

Republicans are confident they can beat any Democrat, says Meena Bose of Hofstra University.

"It is clear that former President Trump and his team thought that President Biden was a possible candidate. They seem to have the same views about the Vice President", says Dr. Bose.

A new rival, however, means some changes to the campaign, says Mr West.

"Republicans need to reframe their entire campaign, which emphasized Joe Biden's age and his family, calling him corrupt. All of that falls away now. Now they will emphasize the fact that Ms. Harris is from California, the most liberal state than the rest of the country," said Brookings Institution government studies expert Darrell West.

JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, has launched the attacks by blaming Ms. Harris for what Republicans see as Mr. Biden's poor performance.

"Our country has been led for three and a half years by a President who can't do the job, and it happened because Kamala Harris and the rest of the Democrats lied about his ability to be president," Mr. Vance said.

Ms Harris, who is expected to choose her running mate by August 7, says voters have a clear choice between her vision and Mr Trump's.

"Do we want to live in a country of freedom and rule of law or a country of chaos, fear and hatred? This is the beauty of this moment. Each of us has the power to answer this question. "The power is with the people," said Ms. Harris.

Initial political polls since President Biden's withdrawal show Ms. Harris narrowing the gap with Mr. Trump./ Voa