By Ezekiel David
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump launched a series of personal and policy-focused attacks against Democratic rival Kamala Harris during a speech in Asheville, North Carolina, on Wednesday.
This comes as Trump’s lead in opinion polls has sharply declined since Harris became the Democratic nominee following President Joe Biden’s decision to drop his reelection bid.
While some of Trump’s allies have expressed concerns about his personal attacks on Harris, advising him to focus on her policy record instead, Trump continued to insult her, calling her “stupid” and mocking her laugh.
However, he also spent more time than usual addressing policy, pledging to open federal lands for drilling, streamline pipeline permits, and reduce energy prices if elected.
Harris has gained significant ground in the polls, with some showing her ahead of Trump in the race for the November 5 election.
Trump has responded by questioning her racial identity, a tactic some Republicans believe is damaging his campaign. Instead, they suggest focusing on Harris’s past opposition to fracking and her position on energy policies, which could be a key issue in swing states like Pennsylvania.
In his speech, Trump also brought financier and informal adviser Scott Bessent on stage, praising him as a potential treasury secretary in a future Trump administration.
Meanwhile, Harris’s campaign accused Trump of neglecting the middle class by opposing union protections and supporting corporate tax cuts.
Harris is set to visit North Carolina on Friday to discuss economic policy, focusing on lowering costs for middle-class families and addressing corporate price-gouging.
Recent polls show Trump with a narrow lead in North Carolina, but Harris is closing the gap, marking a significant shift from a month ago when Republicans were more confident in their position.
(Reuters: Reuters)