Tom Minear: Trump running out the clock while Harris swings for the fences

The polls say the race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is tied, and Tom Minear argues the way they are campaigning shows they have different views about what that means.

The polls say the race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is essentially tied. The way they are campaigning shows they have very different views about what that means.

With a little over fortnight until the US election, the former president is trying to run out the clock, while the Vice-President is starting to swing for the fences.

Mr Trump is refusing to debate Ms Harris again, depriving her of repeating the momentum boost she gained from their first head-to-head encounter. He has also cancelled interviews in which he could have faced tough questions, preferring to speak in safer, friendlier forums.

Republican presidential nominee, former US President Donald Trump, pauses while speaking during a campaign rally on October 19 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Picture: Win McNamee/Getty Images/AFP

Last week, he complained he was “hoodwinked” after an economic speech turned into a tense question-and-answer session. And when a self-described Republican confronted him over the January 6 riot at a town hall of Hispanic voters, saying he wanted to give him “the opportunity to try to win back my vote”, Mr Trump said there was “nothing done wrong”.

This is the sort of self-destructive detour his advisers are trying to avoid. They want Mr Trump to hammer Ms Harris on illegal immigration and soaring inflation, even if they know he can appear bored and lacking in energy when he sticks to his poll-tested lines.

The Vice President, by contrast, spent weeks repeating her talking points in mostly friendly interviews. If she loses, that is a decision she will regret, especially now she is finally taking more risks. Her appearance on Fox News last week was by no means perfect, but it brought out her prosecutorial instincts and an air of confidence and courage she had lacked.

Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, campaigns at a get-out-the-vote on October 19, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. Picture: Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP

Voters unsure about Ms Harris are far more likely to be persuaded by her performance in a combative setting. Tellingly, her biggest mistake lately came in the comfort of talk show The View, where she said there was “not a thing” she would have done differently to Joe Biden.

By taking more chances in her campaign, Ms Harris shows she knows she has work to do, but also that she has a higher electoral ceiling than Mr Trump. There are voters out there for her to convince; there are far fewer who have not made up their minds about her opponent.

Fighting like the underdog is her best play. After all, Hillary Clinton thought she had the 2016 election in the bag, and she lost. Joe Biden felt the same in 2020, and he nearly did too.