Trump drops identity attacks, focuses on Harris's policies and insults

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump launched a series of personal and policy-based attacks against Democratic rival Kamala Harris during a speech on Wednesday in Asheville, North Carolina. This comes as Trump faces a challenging period where his lead in opinion polls has significantly diminished.

Some of Trump's allies, donors, and advisers have expressed concerns about his attacks on Harris's intellect, suggesting he should focus more on criticising her policy record instead.

During the speech, Trump avoided questioning Harris's racial identity and instead provided more detailed policy critiques than in his recent appearances. However, he continued to insult her personally, calling her "stupid" and mocking her laugh as a "cackle," implying it reflected deeper issues.

Harris, who became the Democratic candidate after President Joe Biden withdrew his reelection bid last month, has changed the dynamics of the race. Polls indicate that Harris has been closing the gap with Trump, with some even showing her ahead in the race for the November 5 election. This shift has unsettled Trump’s campaign, leading him to respond with increasingly personal attacks. Some Republicans have also targeted Harris with racist and sexist remarks.

Several Trump allies believe this approach is damaging his campaign. Bill Bean, a major Republican donor, emphasised the need to focus on Harris’s policies rather than her identity. He discussed this strategy with JD Vance, Trump's vice-presidential pick, and Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley.

In the latter part of his speech, Trump shifted his focus to Harris's policy positions and outlined his own proposals. He promised to open federal lands for drilling, streamline the permitting process for pipelines, and lower consumer prices if elected. He pledged to cut energy and electricity prices in half within 12 to 18 months of taking office, although he did not provide specific details on how he would achieve these goals.

Trump criticised Harris for allegedly supporting a ban on fracking, claiming this would hurt her in the swing state of Pennsylvania, where fracking is prevalent. While Harris once opposed new fossil fuel infrastructure, her campaign now states she no longer supports a fracking ban.

Trump also brought financier and informal economic adviser Scott Bessent on stage during his speech, praising him as a potential contender for treasury secretary if he wins in November.

Ahead of Trump’s speech, Harris’s campaign communications director, Michael Tyler, accused Trump of neglecting the middle class, citing his opposition to union protections and support for corporate tax cuts.

Harris is scheduled to visit North Carolina on Friday, where she will deliver a speech in Raleigh focusing on economic policy, including plans to reduce costs for middle-class families and combat corporate price-gouging.

Although Trump still holds a slight lead in North Carolina, according to polling averages from Real Clear Politics, Harris is gaining ground. This is a significant shift from a month ago, when Biden was still the candidate, and Republicans were focusing on expanding their campaign into traditionally Democratic states like Minnesota and Virginia.