(NewsNation) — As former President Donald Trump launches an ad campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris, the hopeful 2024 Democratic nominee is gearing up for her own media blitz.
Trump released his first campaign ad against the potential Democratic presidential nominee, criticizing her record as the “border czar.” Harris’ record includes decisions that were made by the Biden administration while she served as vice president.
The ad relied on many of Trump’s usual talking points, taking aim at the number of fentanyl overdose deaths during the Biden-Harris administration and blaming the vice president for what the ad called “migrant crime.”
Multiple studies analyzing crime data have shown that immigrants commit crimes at a much lower rate than U.S. citizens for both violent and nonviolent offenses.
Meanwhile, the Harris campaign announced its plan to spend $50 million on ads, the first of which will air in battleground states ahead of August’s Democratic National Convention. Harris’ campaign said it raised $200 million in the week after Biden announced he was withdrawing from the campaign and endorsed Harris to lead the Democratic ticket.
The vice president’s ad positions Harris as a “fearless” leader and emphasizes her experience as a prosecutor as well as her efforts to cap the cost of insulin.
On Tuesday, Harris traveled to Atlanta for a campaign rally as voters await her potential Democratic vice presidential pick. NewsNation learned that Harris has been interviewing running mate contenders. She and her choice right-hand person will travel next week to battleground states, sources familiar with the plan confirmed to NewsNation.
An announcement is expected before Aug. 7.