In a recent op-ed, Democratic strategist James Carville has laid out a three-pronged strategy that he believes Vice President Kamala Harris needs to adopt to secure a victory over former President Donald Trump in the upcoming November elections.
According to Mediaite, Carville, who previously advised former President Bill Clinton, described Trump as the "singular most recognized name in the United States." He suggested that this could be advantageous for Harris, as the public is well-acquainted with Trump's modus operandi.
Carville posited that the forthcoming presidential election is a "change election." This typically implies a shift in the party occupying the White House due to the absence of a popular incumbent president on the ballot. However, the situation is complex this time around, with a sitting vice president pitted against a former president. Carville emphasized that Harris must establish herself as the "certified change candidate."
In the context of the anticipated debate on September 10, Carville advised Harris to "help Mr. Trump hurt himself." He suggested that she should allow Trump to dominate the conversation and steer him towards discussing conspiracy theories.
"In the Sept. 10 debate, Ms. Harris must enable exactly what his campaign is scared to death of: letting Trump be Trump. She should let him talk over her. Not just let him but goad him into spouting insane conspiracy theories about the previous election. She should use her sense of humor at key moments to get under his skin and show hes not getting to her. And she should welcome the personal attacks as a badge of honor," Carville wrote.
Furthermore, Carville advised Harris to distinguish herself from President Joe Biden on policy matters, despite being his deputy. He wrote, "To be the certified fresh candidate, Ms. Harris must clearly and decisively break from Mr. Biden on a set of policy priorities she believes would define her presidency."
While Carville did not specify which policy points Harris should diverge from Biden on, he suggested that she should outline broad progressive policy positions in a press conference, amid criticism of her perceived media avoidance.
Lastly, Carville encouraged Harris to adopt a "growth-mindset" by embracing policy positions she has evolved on over the years, such as her previous support for banning fracking. He wrote, "Its vital that she give the same answer every time to these attacks. The retort can be simple: I learned from my time governing in the White House. These are my positions. Take it or leave it." He concluded by stating that by doing so, Harris would demonstrate a capacity for growth, a trait he believes Trump lacks.
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