Harris launches new straight-to-camera ad pushing back on Trump attacks

 Vice President Kamala Harris launched a new campaign ad Thursday evening pushing back on a wave of sharp attacks coming from the Trump campaign and its allies, as the election’s advertising wars have intensified in the closing weeks of the 2024 race.

Speaking straight to camera, Harris says, “You’ve seen all these negative ads against me. Well, here’s the deal. They are designed to tear us apart. But here’s the truth. My life’s work has been fighting on behalf of others.”

Harris continues, “It’s why I became a prosecutor, district attorney and attorney general. I took on drug cartels and human traffickers to protect our communities. Look, everyone is tired of the petty destructive politics. Let’s turn the page and chart a new way forward.”

With pointed reference to Harris’ law enforcement background and her efforts to combat illegal drugs and crime, the ad is aimed at rebutting some of the stark attacks that the Trump campaign and allied outside groups have leveled in their ads.

Some context: Data from the ad tracking firm AdImpact shows that Republicans have waged an overwhelmingly negative advertising campaign in the presidential race, focused heavily on immigration and crime. In the last week, out of $20 million that Republicans spent on broadcast TV ads, $14.7 million had a negative tone, according to AdImpact data, and more than $10 million included references to immigration, crime or law enforcement.

Many of the pro-Trump ads highlight stark accounts of violent crimes allegedly committed by illegal immigrants, and several feature the victims of attacks, some explicitly blaming Harris.

This week, the Harris campaign has about $28 million worth of ad time reserved, with its largest bookings in the top battlegrounds.