As the 2024 presidential campaign intensifies, the Harris-Walz ticket is ramping up its efforts with a new ad campaign that paints former President Donald Trump as a significant threat to American democracy. With just over two months remaining until the election, the Democratic campaign is targeting swing states, underscoring the dangers they claim Trump’s re-election could bring to the nation.
The campaign’s centerpiece, a television and digital ad titled “Control,” features Trump declaring that he would “wield power very aggressively” if given another term in office. The Harris-Walz campaign interprets this statement as a signal that Trump would not hesitate to target political opponents, dismantle essential social programs like Medicare and Social Security, and empower state governments to impose stricter controls on women’s reproductive rights.
The $370 million advertising effort aims to inundate battleground states with the message that Trump’s plans for a second term would be both extreme and dangerous. Quentin Fulks, the principal deputy campaign manager for Harris-Walz, stated that their campaign will seize every opportunity to highlight the stark contrast between Trump’s vision and theirs, emphasizing the darker, more extreme elements of Trump’s agenda.
The ad blitz precedes the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump, scheduled for September 10 on ABC. While the debate has generated significant interest, discussions about its format, particularly whether microphones will be muted when candidates are not speaking, remain unconfirmed.
In addition to traditional media, the Harris-Walz campaign is leveraging social media platforms like TikTok to engage younger voters.
Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign is also active, though smaller. One strategy includes advertising in his West Palm Beach, Florida home turf, raising questions about his support base in what has traditionally been a solid MAGA state.
Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, were focused last week on Georgia, a critical battleground state. The duo were on a two-day bus tour culminating in a rally in Savannah, followed by a joint interview with CNN that aired Thursday evening, August 29.
As the election approaches, both campaigns are intensifying their efforts to sway undecided voters in key states. The Harris-Walz campaign, through its substantial ad buy and targeted messaging, aims to keep the focus on what they describe as the existential danger posed by Trump’s potential return to the White House.