Democrats Launch Digital Offensive as Trump Wavers on Harris Debate
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is rolling out a bold new strategy to challenge former President Donald Trump’s ambivalence towards debating Vice President Kamala Harris. This digital campaign, set to debut on Friday, aims to put pressure on Trump in key battleground states.
Starting with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, ahead of Trump’s rally with running mate Senator JD Vance in Atlanta, the DNC plans to place provocative ads in major newspapers across swing states. These include The Arizona Republic, The Detroit News, Las Vegas Sun, The News & Observer in North Carolina, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The ads will appear both in print and on the papers’ online homepages.
The campaign’s messaging is direct and confrontational, with variations accusing Trump of being “AFRAID to debate” Harris. Some versions link Trump to the controversial Project 2025, alleging plans to “BAN ABORTION NATIONWIDE” as a reason for his perceived reluctance to debate.
DNC Communications Director Rosemary Boeglin emphasized Trump’s past willingness to debate “anytime, anywhere,” contrasting it with his current hesitation following legal challenges and campaign issues. Boeglin asserted that the Democrats would not let Trump evade scrutiny of his “dangerous Project 2025 agenda.”
The debate in question was initially scheduled for September 10 on ABC News, with President Biden as the Democratic candidate. However, Biden’s withdrawal from the race has positioned Harris as the likely Democratic nominee, changing the dynamic of the potential debate.
While Harris has committed to participating, Trump’s stance remains ambiguous. In a recent Fox News interview, he expressed interest in debating but left room for withdrawal, stating, “The answer is yes, but I can also make a case for not doing it.” Trump has also criticized ABC News and suggested openness to other networks hosting the debate.
The Harris campaign has seized on Trump’s indecision, with campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa accusing Trump of dodging questions and fearing scrutiny of his and Vance’s controversial statements.
Jason Miller, a senior advisor to Trump, told Axios that while the campaign is “non-committal” to the September 10 debate, he believes multiple debates between Trump and Harris should occur. Miller suggested that diversifying debate hosts would benefit the public.
This aggressive advertising strategy by the DNC marks a new phase in the pre-election discourse, aiming to portray Trump as hesitant and defensive while positioning Harris as ready and willing to engage in public debate. As the political landscape continues to shift, the pressure on both candidates to commit to and prepare for potential debates is likely to intensify.
