As the traditional Labor Day shift towards the fall election draws closer, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are both stepping up their campaign efforts. Trump, focusing on recapturing states he won in 2016 but lost narrowly in 2020, is scheduled to hold rallies in Michigan and Wisconsin on Thursday. His day starts with a rally in Potterville, Michigan, near the state capital of Lansing, a county he won in both 2016 and 2020. Later, he’ll head to La Crosse, Wisconsin, for a town hall moderated by former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who endorsed him in Detroit. This marks Trump’s first visit to Wisconsin since the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Meanwhile, Harris is taking a different approach, opting for a more controlled environment for her first major television interview since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee. She will sit down with CNN’s Dana Bash on Thursday evening, an interview that will be taped during her two-day bus tour through southeast Georgia. This interview is seen as an opportunity for Harris to quell criticism that she has avoided unscripted settings, while also providing a platform to define her campaign and test her political mettle ahead of the upcoming debate with Trump on September 10th. This interview is also a chance for Harris to capitalize on the momentum she has gained since Joe Biden withdrew from the race and the Democratic National Convention.
The debate itself will be held under strict rules, mirroring those set for the June debate between Trump and President Joe Biden. Notably, there will be no audience, live microphones will be muted when candidates are not speaking, and written notes will be prohibited. These rules were established by ABC News, the host network, and were shared with both campaigns this week. The Harris campaign, however, has stated that they are still discussing the muting of microphones with ABC.
While Harris is aiming to build momentum, Trump’s campaign is focused on casting Harris as a weak candidate who is dodging the media. Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski has accused Harris of avoiding interviews, contrasting her approach with Trump’s, who he says has conducted over three dozen interviews in recent weeks. Lewandowski also criticized the Democratic ticket, claiming that Trump will have to “beat two Democratic nominees” due to Harris’ “coronation” as the nominee after Biden withdrew. He also said Harris “can’t hide” from the Biden administration’s record on jobs and inflation.
Despite these claims, polling data suggests that Democrats are increasingly enthusiastic about voting in November. Gallup polling shows that about 8 in 10 Democrats now say they are more enthusiastic about voting than usual, compared to 55% in March. This surge in enthusiasm gives Democrats an edge they did not have earlier this year. While Republicans’ enthusiasm has also increased, it has done so at a much slower pace, with about two-thirds of Republicans now reporting being more enthusiastic about voting than usual.
With Labor Day fast approaching, the political landscape is heating up. The campaigns of both Trump and Harris are gearing up for a fierce battle, utilizing various strategies to reach voters and build support ahead of the November election.
