Harris gives insight into Trump’s attack lines in 2024

Vice President Harris on Monday gave an outlook on the upcoming election campaign against former President Trump, who is about to become the new Democratic presidential candidate.

Harris traveled to Wilmington, Delaware, to meet with the campaign team as she takes over as head of the Biden campaign team after the president announced on Sunday that he would not seek re-election and endorsed Harris as the new candidate. The vice president cheered on the team, heaping praise on Biden and offering insight into how she will likely approach Trump on the campaign trail.

The vice president pointed out that before her time in Washington, DC, she worked as a prosecutor in California, where she took on “offenders of all kinds.” This remark drew laughter and cheers from the staff in the room, while Harris took a long pause.

“Predators who have abused women. Fraudsters who have defrauded consumers. Fraudsters who have broken the rules for their own gain. So listen to me when I say I know Donald Trump’s type. And in this campaign, I will proudly – I will proudly – pit my record against his,” she said.

Harris and her team will likely emphasize the contrast between her work as a prosecutor and Trump’s long list of legal problems. He was ordered to pay millions of dollars in civil court for his business practices; a jury found him guilty of sexual abuse; and a jury found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in Manhattan.

“Besides, this campaign is not just about us versus Donald Trump,” she said. “It’s about more than that. Our campaign has always been about two different versions of what we see as the future of our country.”

Harris repeated many of the themes Biden used in his campaign. She warned that Trump would take the country backward by restricting the rights of some Americans and would hurt the middle class by prioritizing tax breaks for corporations and wealthy Americans.

And the vice president vowed to fight for reproductive freedom, claiming that if elected, Trump would sign a national abortion law, something he himself was unwilling to do.

Trump’s team attacked Harris by linking her to Biden’s record on inflation and immigration and arguing that her California roots made her too liberal to lead the nation.

Harris’ appearance in Delaware, where she was accompanied by Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, came about 28 hours after Biden announced on social media that he would not seek re-election amid growing pressure from Democrats to step down as a candidate. Shortly thereafter, he endorsed Harris as his successor.

Almost all Democrats have endorsed Harris as the next candidate, including numerous governors who were considered possible rivals.

Harris said Monday she will retain the same campaign leadership as Biden going forward. Jen O’Malley Dillon, who also managed Biden’s 2020 campaign, will continue to manage Harris’ campaign. Julie Chavez Rodriguez will continue to serve as campaign manager.

“We have work to do in the next 106 days,” Harris said. “We have to knock on doors, we have to talk to people, we have to make calls and we have to win an election.”