As Vice President Kamala Harris and her soon-to-be-announced running mate launch a campaign tour through seven critical battleground states this week, Republican vice presidential nominee Senator JD Vance is set to closely follow their moves. This strategic “bracketing” by Vance is part of the Trump campaign’s efforts to directly challenge the Biden-Harris administration’s record and emphasize the key issues where Republicans believe Harris is most vulnerable.
Senator Vance, a first-term senator from Ohio and former President Trump’s running mate on the GOP national ticket, will be in Philadelphia on Tuesday as Harris kicks off her tour. According to sources close to Vance, his stops will primarily serve as media availabilities rather than large rallies, where he plans to zero in on the administration’s handling of inflation, border security, and crime—issues Republicans see as Harris’s political Achilles’ heel.
The Vance events, first reported by Politico, are expected to feature everyday Americans who have been negatively impacted by the policies of President Biden and Vice President Harris. By highlighting these personal stories, Vance aims to draw a sharp contrast between the current administration’s approach and the Trump-Vance ticket’s vision for the future.
Vance’s campaign trail closely mirrors Harris’s, with scheduled appearances in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Detroit, Michigan, on Wednesday, followed by a stop in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Thursday. Later in the week, he is expected to follow Harris to Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada, maintaining a presence in each of these key swing states.
This bracketing effort reflects Vance’s evolving role within the GOP ticket as an “attack dog,” tasked with challenging the Democratic vice presidential nominee at every turn. Additionally, Vance is emerging as a key ambassador to high-level Republican donors, solidifying his influence within the party.
Former President Trump, who has a long history of aggressive campaigning, has already begun to directly target Harris in recent weeks. In social media posts and at a rally in Atlanta, Georgia, Trump criticized Harris’s intellect and leadership abilities, claiming she has a “low IQ” and lacks the “mental capacity” for the role. These pointed attacks are echoed by Vance, who continues to amplify the GOP’s critique of the Biden-Harris administration on the campaign trail.
As the election season heats up, Vance’s close shadowing of Harris is a clear indication that the Republican ticket is committed to holding the Biden-Harris administration accountable, while also making a direct appeal to voters in the swing states that will likely decide the 2024 election.
