In a surprising move on Monday, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy urged former President Donald Trump to shift his campaign strategy away from focusing on the size of Kamala Harris's rally crowds and instead concentrate on critiquing her policy record. McCarthy's comments came during an interview with Fox News, where he emphasized the importance of making the 2024 presidential race about substantive issues rather than personalities.
"You've gotta make this race not about personalities," McCarthy stated. "Stop questioning the size of her crowds, and start questioning her position, when it comes to: what did she do as [California] attorney general on crime? ... What did she do when she was supposed to take care of the border as a czar?"
McCarthy's remarks followed a heated exchange over the weekend between Trump and the Harris campaign. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, accused Harris of using artificial intelligence to fabricate a large crowd at her recent rally in Detroit, Michigan. On Sunday, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to share a photograph of the event, claiming that the image was doctored to show a massive turnout.
"Look, we caught her with a fake 'crowd'. There was nobody there!" Trump wrote. In another post, he labeled Harris a "CHEATER" and claimed, "She 'AI'd' it, and showed a massive 'crowd' of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDN'T EXIST!"
However, the Harris campaign quickly refuted Trump's allegations, stating that the photograph in question depicted an actual crowd of 15,000 supporters at the rally. The campaign also responded on X, formerly Twitter, challenging Trump's assertions and questioning his energy and commitment to campaigning in swing states. "Trump has still not campaigned in a swing state in over a week ... Low energy?" the Harris campaign tweeted.
David Plouffe, a senior adviser for the Harris campaign, also weighed in, expressing concern over Trump's accusations. "These are not conspiratorial rantings from the deepest recesses of the internet. The author could have the nuclear codes and be responsible for decisions that will affect us all for decades," Plouffe remarked, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
The feud over crowd sizes and rally photos underscores the intense rivalry between the two candidates as the 2024 presidential race heats up. Harris, who has been on an extensive swing state tour, has drawn large crowds at her events, which she has used to bolster her campaign's momentum. In contrast, Trump has faced criticism for holding fewer rallies and for his focus on attacking Harris's campaign tactics rather than her policy positions.
As McCarthy noted, Trump's preoccupation with crowd sizes could be a distraction from more pressing issues. The former speaker suggested that Trump should instead focus on Harris's record as California's attorney general and her role in addressing border security as vice president. By doing so, McCarthy believes Trump could better position himself to challenge Harris on substantive grounds rather than engaging in what he termed "petty" disputes over crowd sizes.
Despite the back-and-forth over the weekend, Harris's campaign continues to gain traction. Recent polling data indicates that Harris is leading Trump by four percentage points in key swing states, including Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. The New York Times and Siena College poll, conducted among 1,973 likely voters between August 5-9, shows Harris with 50% support compared to Trump's 46%.
The Harris campaign's response to Trump's accusations has been assertive, with the campaign releasing videos and photographs from the Detroit rally to counter Trump's claims. Additionally, Harris's team has continued to emphasize her focus on key battleground states, while questioning Trump's commitment to campaigning in these critical areas.
