Kamala’s Secret GOP Playbook Revealed!

Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign has unveiled a strategic initiative to attract Republican voters, especially those from swing states who previously supported former GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley. However, the endeavor faces notable obstacles, as detailed by a source familiar with the campaign’s outreach to Republicans.

The campaign has appointed state political directors to spearhead efforts to connect with Republicans in various regions, according to an inside source who spoke to NBC News. Despite these efforts, securing backing from certain state leadership teams to lead Republican outreach has proven challenging. The source explained, “That’s the dream of theirs, but I don’t actually think that’s going to happen on the level they want.”

This source expressed concern about garnering Republican support for Harris, citing her policy stances during the 2020 Democratic primaries, such as her endorsement of the Green New Deal and backing for mandatory gun buyback programs. However, some of Harris’s evolving positions on these issues have allayed these concerns, indicating potential for bipartisan appeal.

In a recent announcement, the Harris campaign introduced a fresh initiative to engage GOP voters, including establishing state advisory committees in battleground states. These committees will be instrumental in facilitating Republican-to-Republican voter engagement through activities like door knocking, phone banking, and hosting events with Republican speakers. The campaign also plans to launch a digital effort where Republican Harris supporters can share their perspectives online with fellow Republicans.

In the 2020 election, the Biden-Harris campaign relied heavily on independent, anti-Trump groups to reach GOP voters. For the 2024 race, they have taken a different approach by creating a dedicated position focused on courting Republican voters. Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois’ ex-chief of staff, Austin Weatherford, was hired several months ago for this role.

Weatherford, the national director of Republican outreach for the Harris campaign, stated, “Donald Trump’s MAGA extremism is toxic to the millions of Republicans who no longer believe the party of Donald Trump represents their values and will vote against him again in November. Donald Trump said he doesn’t want these voters, but Vice President Harris and our campaign are working overtime to earn the support of my fellow Republicans who care about defending democracy and restoring decency.”

The campaign has also highlighted endorsements from several Republicans, many of whom have previously criticized former President Donald Trump. Notable endorsements include former Republican Governor Bill Weld of Massachusetts, former Representative Denver Riggleman from Virginia, and former Trump administration press secretary Stephanie Grisham.

Throughout her seven-state campaign blitz this week, Harris will be joined by Republican surrogates at various events, although the campaign has not disclosed which individuals will appear. This support underscores the campaign’s commitment to reaching across the aisle and building a broad coalition.

When asked about the possibility of attracting high-profile Republican endorsements, the source acknowledged the difficulty of persuading prominent Republicans to endorse a Democratic ticket in 2020, suggesting it might be even more challenging now. The source expressed hope that former Rep. Liz Cheney from Wyoming might eventually endorse Harris, despite not being included in the recent list of endorsements. Additionally, the source recommended pursuing the endorsement of former Sen. Jeff Flake from Arizona, who supported President Joe Biden in 2020.

Neither Cheney nor Flake has made any endorsements for the 2024 race, and Flake, who serves as Ambassador to Turkey, declined to comment on domestic politics. If Cheney were to endorse Harris, it would align her once again with Kinzinger, the only Republican besides Cheney who served on the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and a fellow Trump critic.

“As a proud conservative, I never thought I’d be endorsing a Democrat for President,” Kinzinger stated. “But, I know Vice President Harris will defend our democracy and ensure Donald Trump never returns to the White House.”

Similarly, Grisham expressed her views in a statement, acknowledging, “I might not agree with Vice President Kamala Harris on everything, but I know that she will fight for our freedom.” She further encouraged other former Trump administration officials who witnessed Trump’s presidency firsthand to “speak out and stand with Kamala Harris this November to keep integrity in the White House and ensure democracy for our country.”

Despite the Harris campaign’s efforts to win over Republican voters, the Trump campaign has been actively portraying Harris as “dangerously liberal.” During a rally in Atlanta on Saturday, former President Trump referred to Harris as a “radical left freak.”

Yet, these criticisms have not deterred the source familiar with the Harris campaign’s GOP outreach, who has previously worked in Republican politics. They remarked, “I feel really at peace with doing everything we can to beat him with Harris. I think defeating Trump is the best way to get to a healthy Republican Party.”

In a political landscape marked by polarization, the Harris campaign’s outreach to Republicans signifies an effort to bridge divides and appeal to voters across the spectrum, aiming to build a coalition dedicated to defending democratic values and restoring decency in American politics.