The House Republican campaign arm is strategically crafting a plan to highlight specific aspects of Vice President Kamala Harris' record in an effort to challenge Democrats in competitive House races as Harris progresses towards the Democratic nomination.
Even though Harris has not yet been officially named the Democratic presidential nominee, the GOP campaign arm is already shaping its attacks on down-ballot Democrats to align with their goal of retaining control of the House. The evolving plan aims to link Harris to what Republicans perceive as failed policies of the Biden administration, as well as resurrect some of her stances from her 2019 presidential campaign.
Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas emphasized, 'It’s the Harris-Biden ticket. His failures are her failures.'
In pivotal swing districts in Arizona and New Mexico, the GOP campaign arm intends to emphasize Harris' initiatives to address the root causes of migration from Central America. Republicans are keen on making border crossings and mass migrations a central campaign issue, often referring to Harris as the 'border czar.'
White House officials have refuted the 'border czar' label, asserting that Harris is focused on long-term solutions. Senate Republicans recently blocked a significant bipartisan border deal, highlighting the contentious nature of the issue.
Republicans have also resurfaced Harris' 2019 debate moment where she indicated support for decriminalizing illegal border crossings. The NRCC has been actively publicizing this and other instances to challenge Democrats aligned with Harris.
In Pennsylvania, the GOP campaign arm is spotlighting Harris' past statements on banning fracking, particularly in the districts of Democratic Representatives Matt Cartwright and Susan Wild. Additionally, in states like Minnesota and Oregon, Harris is being portrayed as soft on crime, with Republicans linking her to a 2020 tweet soliciting funds for a bail group following the George Floyd protests.
Both Biden and Harris have denounced violence and expressed support for peaceful protests. The NRCC is already working on developing comprehensive ads, offering a glimpse into the evolving strategy behind the scenes.
House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized that the upcoming election is about policies rather than personalities, highlighting the contrasting administrations of Trump and Harris. Johnson expressed confidence in the GOP's prospects in the November elections, particularly with Harris at the forefront.
