Maggie Haberman highlights Trump's 'reactive nature', says he’s 'clearly jarred' by Harris’ poll momentum

Maggie Haberman noted that Kamala Harris has gained considerable momentum, breaking donation records and attracting large crowds at rallies
UPDATED AUG 24, 2024
Maggie Haberman analyzed Donald Trump’s reaction to Kamala Harris’s speech on Thursday evening(CNN/YouTube/Getty Images)
Maggie Haberman analyzed Donald Trump’s reaction to Kamala Harris’s speech on Thursday evening(CNN/YouTube/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Senior political correspondent Maggie Haberman has observed that former President Trump appears “clearly jarred” by the recent surge in momentum from Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign.

This boost in Harris’s visibility and momentum came after a dynamic few weeks and the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

Maggie Haberman highlights Trump’s discomfort with Kamala Harris’ rising influence

In a discussion with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Friday, Maggie Haberman analyzed Donald Trump’s reaction to Kamala Harris’s speech on Thursday evening, during which she formally accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination, as per The Hill.

Haberman noted that Trump’s immediate reactions to Harris’s speech on Fox News and Newsmax, as well as his live commentary on Truth Social, underscored his discomfort with her increasing influence.

Former President Donald Trump made several verbal gaffes during the Philadelphia MAGA rally (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Maggie Haberman noted that Donald  Trump’s immediate reactions to Kamala Harris’s speech on Fox News and Newsmax, as well as his live commentary on Truth Social, underscored his discomfort with her increasing influence (Getty Images)

Haberman commented, “Look, he’s very reactive in all things when he is not in command, and we’ve seen this over the last nine years he’s been in politics. He is clearly jarred by her,” as highlighted by Mediaite.

Despite Trump’s attempts to downplay Harris’s success, including criticisms over her not addressing issues like the border and China, her campaign continues to gain momentum.

Kamala Harris’s growing momentum sparks Donald Trump’s strategic response

Kamala Harris has set new donation records and drawn large crowds at rallies across the country.

Her speech at the Chicago convention arrived amid a tumultuous period for the Democratic Party, marked by President Biden’s withdrawal from the race and growing concerns about Harris’s ability to effectively compete against Trump.

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 25: Democratic U.S. Vice Presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) speaks
Kamala Harris has set new donation records and drawn large crowds at rallies across the country (Getty Images)

Haberman explained that Trump appears to be strategically attempting to reclaim the narrative by highlighting where Harris’s speech diverged from the Biden administration’s record.

“He is trying to point out the areas where she separated herself, at least by omission, from … President Biden, in terms of not tying herself to their joint record,” Haberman said.

She also noted that Trump’s aides have advised him to consistently link Harris to Biden, aiming to undermine her by association. “There are a number of Trump’s aides who would like him to basically just be saying ‘Biden-Harris, Biden-Harris’ all the time, and so that’s his way of doing it,” Haberman said.

“We’ll see if he can sustain it,” she added, leaving open the question of whether Trump’s tactics will successfully shift the focus away from Harris’s growing momentum.

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