OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has released a new ad featuring Vice President Kamala Harris on “The View,” saying she would not do “anything different” than President Joe Biden if she wins.
The 30-second spot highlights Harris telling co-host Sunny Hostin that “there is not a thing that comes to mind” when asked what she would’ve done differently than Biden over the last 3.5 years.
“A flood of illegals, skyrocketing prices, global chaos, and Kamala wouldn’t change a thing,” the narrator says in the ad. After a clip from the vice president’s widely criticized appearance on the ABC daytime talk show is aired, the narrator states: “Nothing will change with Kamala.”
“More weakness, more war, more welfare for illegals, and even more taxes,” the ad continues. “Only President Trump cut middle-class taxes, and only President Trump will do it again.”
WATCH:
https://t.co/wrHFa4DTWr
I’ve posted that interview segment a few times, and I love the fact that President Trump is using it to show voters who Kamala is. pic.twitter.com/1LJ5n0NzHf— RetiredPublius (@ProffesorPubli1) October 17, 2024
The “blue wall” states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania have provided the road to the White House for the last few elections.
However, with only 14 days until the November 5 election, there are fears within Kamala Harris’ team about the vice president’s ability to win all three states. Harris’s team is also worried that North Carolina has “slipped away.”
“Recent discussions have centered on the possibility of an anomaly happening this year with just part of the blue wall breaking its way. The conversations have focused on whether Michigan or Wisconsin “fall” to former President Donald Trump while the two other states go blue, according to three sources with knowledge of the campaign’s strategy,” NBC News reported.
“Losing Wisconsin or Michigan would mean that even if Harris secures Pennsylvania — where both Harris and Trump have spent the most time and resources — she would not reach the necessary 270 electoral votes to win the White House without winning another battleground state or possibly two,” the outlet added.
“There has been a thought that maybe Michigan or Wisconsin will fall off,” said a senior Harris campaign official, who stressed that the bigger concern is over Michigan.
Two other campaign strategists — who, like others in this piece, were granted anonymity to talk freely — expressed great concern about Michigan. Those people continue to believe that all states are near and that there are alternate paths to victory.
NBC News added: “But also potentially troubling for Democrats: What Harris’ campaign had thought was one of its best insurance possibilities may also be in peril. Just a few weeks ago, several Harris advisers in interviews pointed to the combination of electoral votes from North Carolina and Nevada as a strong alternative path for Harris should Trump win Pennsylvania and claim its 19 electoral votes. While North Carolina is still in the campaign’s sights and Democrats maintain strong organization and leadership there, the Harris team is far less bullish about victory, four people with knowledge of the dynamics said.”
“Of all of the seven [states], that one seems to be a little bit slipping away,” the Harris campaign official said of North Carolina.
According to these sources, Hurricane Helene’s devastation and the widespread misinformation that followed could work against Harris in North Carolina.
One of the sources also mentioned a less competitive race for governor as a possible factor.
A series of scandals derailed Republican nominee Mark Robinson’s campaign, leaving him significantly behind Democrat Josh Stein in polls; these developments have resulted in less local involvement and energy on the ground, according to that person.
Nate Silver’s most recent update to his election model showed a big change in the 2024 presidential race. The model especially showed how support for former President Donald Trump was growing faster than support for Vice President Kamala Harris.
At the moment, Harris has a small lead with 50.1%, which is down 4.8%, while Trump has 49.7%, which is up 4.8%.
Some of the most important swing states, like the Midwest and Sun Belt, are now moving toward Trump. Trump also has a big lead in places like Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. However, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are still close.
Silver, a top pollster from the 2016 and 2020 races, said: “We’re just not seeing as many Harris +3 type numbers in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania as we did immediately after the debate.”
The move has been linked to Harris’s post-debate support stabilizing, as initial gains did not last and she is now trailing.