Last gasp Trump ‘tactic that won’t work’

Donald Trump has been having a field day in the last week of the campaign with a new tactic – but an expert said it could fail and even backfire.

IN THE US

Donald Trump’s final week attempt to harm Kamala Harris’ campaign could end up being a failure due to a “tactic that will not make a difference”.

That plan appears to be to capitalise on US President Joe Biden’s gaffe where he appeared to – but maybe didn’t – call Mr Trump’s supporters “garbage”.

But Mr Trump’s plan could injure his own presidential prospects.

That’s the opinion of an election watcher of a contest that has just days to run.

And even if the Republicans thought focusing on Mr Biden’s criticism of half the population – their supporters – was a good idea, the Democrats are now claiming Mr Trump has also insulted half the population too – women.

Americans go to the polls on Tuesday, November 5, in what is being billed as one of the US’ most consequential elections.

Early voting has seen more than 60 million already cast their ballots.

The contest is effectively tied, as are the swing states that will decide whether Ms Harris or Mr Trump gets the keys to the White House.

The presidency will be decided in just days. (Photo by LOREN ELLIOTT and Ian Maule / AFP)

Wild week of the campaign

University of Kansas professor of rhetoric and political communication Robert Rowland told news.com.au Mr Trump’s latest issues stem from his riotous rally in New York City last weekend.

Prof Rowland said Mr Trump has tried “neutralise the criticism of his rally in NYC” by jumping on comments by President Joe Biden.

But while his base will be energised, it could be a misfire and actually remind voters off the rally and his comments.

The Madison Square Garden rally featured the likes of right wing pundit Tucker Carlson, former wrestler Hulk Hogan and a man who called Ms Harris the “anti-Christ” while holding aloft a cross.

Yet even that drama was drowned out by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe who joked that the US territory of Puerto Rico was a “floating island of garbage”.

The “garbage” comment was a godsend for Kamala Harris, whose poll lead has diminished in the dying days of the campaign.

The joke, which didn’t seem to be well received even among rally-goers, has been widely condemned and has seen prominent Puerto Ricans withdraw support from Mr Trump.

As many as six million Puerto Ricans can vote in the US, many in swing states.

Kamala Harris has tried to distance herself from Joe Biden's comments on a Zoom call about Trump supporters.

Garbage-gate

All was going well for the Democrats until Mr Biden the weighed in, much to the glee of the Republicans.

“Puerto Ricans are good, decent, honourable people,” Mr Biden said on Tuesday to a Latino organisation.

“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”

Mr Biden’s staff insisted he was referring only to Hinchcliffe. While Ms Harris made it clear she had no time for the comment.

Yet the very next day, Mr Trump donned a fluoro vest and drove around a car park in a rubbish truck revelling in Mr Biden’s gaffe.

“This truck is in honour of Kamala and Joe Biden,” he said. Mr Trump’s rally speech was then done in fluro too.

Republican pollster Frank Luntz said Mr Biden’s remarks was “going to be huge”.

“This may be a turning point for those final 3 per cent, and that’s all it is, who still need to be persuaded.”

Donald Trump held an impromptu press conference while sitting in a garbage truck to continue attacking Joe Biden for calling his supporters "garbage". Picture X

Trump ‘tactic’ fail

But Prof Rowland saw it differently.

“The gaffe would have been far more important had it come from Harris,” he said.

“But Biden isn’t the nominee.

“He also has a history of gaffes and clearly had trouble expressing himself.”

Prof Rowland said Mr Trump was attempting to use the President’s “garbage” gaffe to deflect from the New York rally.

“I do not think this tactic will make a big difference in the campaign, because those in the MAGA movement already have a strong sense of grievance toward elites.

“I also am doubtful that Trump’s costuming will resolve the negative impact of the New York rally on campaign.”

Continued focusing on Mr Biden’s “garbage” retort also could also remind voters that it was at a Trump rally where it was originally uttered.

Kamala Harris is doubling down on Mr Trumps’ commenst aboit women. (Photo by Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

“Racially insensitive comments are common at Trump rallies, both from the candidate and his supporters,” said Prof Rowland.

“In contrast, Biden has a strong record of reaching out to both the black and Hispanic communities. He also immediately cleaned up the mistake.

“Trump can’t clean up his mistake because critical comments about groups, other than white Americans have been a common theme of his rhetoric, going back to his first campaign”.

Prof Rowland said Ms Harris should continue her attacks characterising Trump “as an authoritarian who doesn’t care about ordinary people” in contrast to her claims that she is the opposite.

“She only needs to pull a few per cent of black and Hispanic men who have been leaning toward supporting Trump back to her campaign to shift the race in a major way.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada, October 31, 2024. (Photo by Ian Maule / AFP)

Trump’s remark about women

Prof Rowland added that Ms Harris could turn attention to Mr Trump’s weak spot with women.

“She can use Trump’s comments about ‘taking care of’ women to solidify or even add to her support among women”.

That was in reference to a comment made by the Republican nominee on Friday in Wisconsin where he said he was a “protector” of women.

He then claimed that his campaign team has told him it would be “very inappropriate,” for him to use the term when referring to women.

“I said, ‘Well, I’m going to do it, whether the women like it or not,’” Mr Trump said. “I’m going to protect them”.

The Harris campaign, which has been keen to move on from garbage-gate, pounced on the “whether they like it or not,” remarks.

“Donald Trump thinks he should get to make decisions about what you do with your body,” Ms Harris said in a social media post, “Whether you like it or not”.

Then came Mr Trump’s comments about Republican Liz Cheney, a former Congresswoman, who has long smarted at him.

On Thursday, he said the former senator was a “radical war hawk,” who, “should stand “with nine barrels shooting at her”.

“Let’s see how she feels about it … when the guns are trained on her face.”

Responding, Ms Harris said: “Anyone who wants to be president of the United States who uses that kind of violent rhetoric is clearly disqualified and unqualified to be president”.

However, the Democrats have also found themselves in a sticky situation regarding a man’s view on women.

Harris surrogate billionaire Mark Cuban said on a TV show on Thursday that Mr Trump was “never around strong, intelligent women”.

“They’re intimidating to him. He doesn’t like to be challenged by them,” he said on ABC’s The View.

On Friday, Mr Cuban apologised and said he didn’t mean to insult Mr Trump’s voters, supporters or staff.

Mr Trump called Mr Cuban a “fool”.

“I surround myself with the strongest of women – With the understanding that ALL women are great, whether strong or not strong,” he added.

Originally published as Last gasp Trump ‘tactic that won’t work’