Vice President Kamala Harris’s post-debate campaign visits to North Carolina and Pennsylvania on Thursday and Friday, respectively, represents the start of a “more aggressive” campaigning stage, her campaign said.
Harris is set to hold two rallies in North Carolina and one in Pennsylvania as part of the kickoff for her “New Way Forward Tour,” which her campaign said is an effort to “capitalize on her decisive victory” against former President Donald Trump at the ABC News debate.
A man holds a Harris-Walz flag as supporters of Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris attend a watch party during the presidential debate on Sept. 10, 2024.
Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images
The campaign said that Harris had such a “commanding debate performance” that it spent Wednesday going through the footage to pinpoint moments they can use in upcoming ads in the coming days.
This phase will also see the vice president do more media engagements primarily targeting battleground states and other important constituencies, the campaign said, with local media interviews set for the coming days. She will also participate in a discussion with the National Association of Black Journalists next week.
Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks during an ABC News presidential debate with former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Philadelphia, on Sept. 10, 2024.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Gov. Tim Walz and Gwen Walz will each hit the road as part of the tour as well.
Emhoff will be in Arizona and Nevada on Thursday; Gov. Walz will be in Michigan on Thursday and Wisconsin on Friday; and Mrs. Walz will be in New Hampshire on Thursday.
The campaign’s new tour will also feature surrogate events, including a Republicans for Harris function in Phoenix, Arizona, an HBCU student event in Savannah, Georgia, and a veterans and military families event in Columbus, Georgia.
After a lackluster performance in the recent Democratic primary debate, Senator Kamala Harris and her campaign team are gearing up for a more aggressive approach in their post-debate campaigning efforts. Despite being seen as a top contender in the crowded field of candidates, Harris has struggled to maintain momentum in recent weeks, with her poll numbers slipping and fundraising efforts lagging behind some of her rivals.
In an effort to regain lost ground and reinvigorate her campaign, Harris and her team have announced plans to ramp up their post-debate efforts. This includes a more aggressive approach to messaging, with Harris expected to take a more confrontational stance towards her opponents on key issues such as healthcare, criminal justice reform, and climate change.
Additionally, the campaign plans to increase its presence on the ground in key primary states, with Harris making more frequent visits and holding larger campaign events to connect with voters. The team also intends to invest more heavily in digital advertising and social media outreach, in order to reach a wider audience and engage with younger voters who may be more active online.
Harris has also hinted at potential changes to her campaign staff and strategy, in an effort to shake things up and inject new energy into her bid for the Democratic nomination. While details on these changes have not been released, it is clear that Harris is determined to take a more proactive approach in the coming weeks and months.
Despite the challenges she has faced in recent weeks, Harris remains a formidable candidate with a strong base of support and a compelling personal story. With a renewed focus on aggressive campaigning and a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances, Harris and her team are hoping to turn the tide and regain their position as a top contender in the race for the Democratic nomination. Only time will tell if these efforts will be successful, but one thing is certain: Harris is not going down without a fight.
