With all the talk about the presidential race, the down-ballot races, which are oftentimes as important, aren't talked about as much as they should be. In 2020, Democrats wanted to convince voters that President Biden would help down-ballot candidates win due to his "moderate" policy approach.
However, now that Kamala Harris has taken over and has all but become the Democrat nominee, she can't pretend to be against the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, among other policies that are supported by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), as well as Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez (D-NY), and the rest of the squad, who openly admit they are "progressives" who want to enact a "bold agenda" and are not moderates.
🚨Watch how radical Kamala Harris is:
— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) July 5, 2024
Wants to eliminate private health insurance.
Wants to ban fracking.
Wants to ban plastic straws.
Wants to scrap filibuster to pass Green New Deal.
Wants a carbon fee.
Wants to prosecute parents for truancy.pic.twitter.com/laTQwnaBqX
Although unlikely, she could have changed her stance about those policies, but currently, she has not been asked about her comments in 2019 and 2020, and she has not addressed them. When that time comes, we will get more clarity about where she stands now, but regardless, she will not be able to be portrayed as a moderate, which could hurt down-ballot candidates in states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) is one of the senators being targeted for his past praise of Harris.
The ad against Brown featured his own words: "I love Sen. Kamala Harris for so many reasons."
"Sherrod Brown has found a new friend," the ad’s narrator states. "And just like his old friend, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris doesn’t care about the border crisis."
The ad continues with Harris saying, "We have a secure border," which we know is not true, but they will continue to spin their border policy in any way they can to avoid responsibility and blame.
"Sherrod Brown agrees," the ad narrator says before a clip shows Brown saying, "The border is not an emergency."
"Sherrod Brown and Kamala Harris, new friends, same old radical agenda," the ad says in closing.
Here is the entire ad:
NEW OHIO SENATE AD: Sherrod Brown ❤️ Kamala Harris pic.twitter.com/Ps6lKzhpAy
— Andrew Surabian (@Surabees) July 24, 2024
Reagan McCarthy, Communications Director for Republican challenger Bernie Moreno, told Fox News:
Kamala Harris would be even more radical than Joe Biden, and Sherrod Brown supports her 100%. As ‘border czar,’ Harris has overseen the worst border invasion in history, and Brown helped her implement the most liberal agenda in American history. In November, Ohioans will reject Harris and retire Brown.
Harris being front and center could be a gift for the GOP Senate candidates. Not just Moreno but also Pennsylvania senate candidate Dave McCormick.
McCormick released a damning ad as well, which highlights Democrat Sen. Bob Casey's praise of Harris:
Bob Casey just endorsed the most liberal nominee in U.S. history. pic.twitter.com/J0V6W7CUlh
— Dave McCormick (@DaveMcCormickPA) July 23, 2024
Moreno and McCormick's campaign strategy is smart because these are the types of ads that will not only hurt the senators in swing states but also let people see who the real Harris is and what policies she supported when running for president in 2020.
Based on the past six polls, Democrat incumbent Bob Casey currently holds an eight-point lead over McCormick on average. As for the Ohio Senate race, the past two polls show Moreno gaining ground. In March, during primary season, he was trailing Brown by 11; however, in the most recent poll conducted on June 29 through July 1, it is a six-point difference. In a poll conducted on June 6, which had more respondents, he is trailing by five. Both races will be a tough battle, but the more ads they run highlighting Brown and Casey praising Harris and focusing on policies that the American voter cares about, the more the race could shift.
