Vice President Kamala Harris is navigating a pivotal moment in her presidential campaign after a smooth two-week launch.
With enthusiastic crowds, a surge in donations, and a strong volunteer turnout, Harris is set to face a critical week, including the major decision of choosing a running mate.
This decision, typically spread over several months, has been accelerated, leaving Harris with a Tuesday deadline to select her vice-presidential candidate.
Harris’ shortlist includes four governors, a senator, and a Cabinet official who was also a rival in the 2020 primaries. This selection will shape the next phase of her campaign, as she and her running mate embark on a seven-state battleground tour starting in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
The tour will cover key states like Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada, where Harris’ rallies have already drawn enthusiastic crowds.
The Harris campaign is keenly aware of the fleeting nature of political momentum. While early success has put traditionally challenging states back into contention, campaign officials continue to emphasize the competitive nature of the race against Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Harris’ strong rollout has sparked hope among Democrats, with campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez refocusing efforts on Arizona and Nevada due to Harris’ growing competitiveness in these states.
As Harris prepares to become the official Democratic nominee on Monday, following a successful delegate vote, her campaign is already showing signs of a start-up operation, as evidenced by technical issues during a recent virtual meeting with supporters.
Despite these challenges, the campaign reports significant grassroots support, with over 2.3 million phone calls, 172,000 door knocks, and 2.9 million text messages sent to voters in battleground states.
One of the major upcoming events will be a debate between Harris and Trump, though the timing remains uncertain. While Harris’ campaign has committed to a September 10 debate on ABC, Trump has opted for a September 4 debate on Fox News.
The debate schedule is yet to be finalized, with Trump asserting, “I’ll see her on September 4th or, I won’t see her at all.”
As Harris navigates these critical decisions and prepares for the next phase of her campaign, she continues to refine her message. Her first television ad last week emphasized her resilience and the campaign’s slogan, “We are not going back.”
She consistently highlights themes of freedom, including the right to abortion and protection from gun violence. Harris also contrasts her prosecutorial background against Trump’s legal troubles, positioning herself as a candidate who has tackled serious issues while portraying Trump as a figure marred by indictments and civil judgments.
The campaign’s next steps are crucial as they work to translate the current enthusiasm into sustained support, especially in battleground states where the race is expected to be close.
As Harris and her team prepare for the upcoming tour and final running mate selection, the campaign’s focus will be on maintaining momentum and building a broad coalition of support.
