Trump launching ad blitz to try to slow Harris surge

The Trump campaign has had to pivot to find a new message targeting Kamala Harris. (AP PHOTO)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign will launch a $US10 million ($A15m) advertising blitz in six battleground states this week as it tries to counter a surge of voter enthusiasm and donations for his Democratic rival Kamala Harris.

It's Trump's biggest ad buy since January, when he was fighting off Republican rivals for the party's nomination. The blitz comes as Harris’ candidacy has changed the race.

Since President Joe Biden dropped out last week and endorsed Harris, she has rapidly consolidated support within the Democratic Party and from big-money donors. She has also sparked a newfound energy among groups such as young voters that Biden had been struggling to win over.

US Vice President Kamala Harris
Donations have poured in since Kamala Harris became the presumptive Democratic candidate.

After months of attacks on Biden’s fitness for office, Trump's campaign has had to pivot to find a new message to use against the younger and more dynamic Harris, 59, less than 100 days until the November election.

Trump, 78, released an ad on Monday on his Truth Social platform using Harris’s own words from old interviews, campaign events and debates to try to portray her as an extreme liberal out of touch with everyday Americans, particularly in the Rust Belt.

In response, Harris accused the Trump campaign of lying about her record.

"Vice President Harris has been a key leader in working across the aisle to pass the Biden-Harris administration’s historic, popular agenda," Harris spokeswoman Sarafina Chitika said.

Since emerging as her party's candidate, Harris has focused on Trump's felony convictions in a New York hush-money trial and the other criminal charges he faces, and portrayed him as responsible for a wave of anti-abortion measures in Republican-led states around the country.

A major pro-Trump funding group, MAGA Inc, kicked off a parallel ad blitz when it said last week it will spend $US10 million in three states with new ads criticising Harris.

Unlike presidential campaigns, there are no limits on donations to super political action committees PACs, meaning they often have more money to spend. But they are not permitted to co-ordinate with campaigns on strategy.

Future Forward, a Democratic super PAC said it is launching a $US50 million effort to back Harris in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the six states seen as pivotal to deciding the election because their voting preferences can swing either way.

Attendees cheer during a campaign event
The Democrat campaign raised $US200 million in a week as support for Kamala Harris surges.

Harris’ campaign said on Sunday that it raised $US200 million in new campaign funds last week.

While Harris is well known, her policy positions are not.

“She has a second chance to make a first impression,” said pollster Evan Roth Smith of the Democratic polling firm Blueprint.

But the danger for Harris lies in whether the Trump campaign can define her in voters' minds before her campaign can make it to the airwaves, he said.

Brian Schimming, chair of Wisconsin's Republican Party, said Republicans are moving to do just that.

"It's about letting people know that if you didn't like Joe Biden, you're really not going to like Kamala Harris," he said.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store