The Democratic National Convention was a joyful, inclusive reminder of what politics is supposed to feel like. And Vice President Kamala Harris ended the week by delivering a fierce, patriotic and refreshing speech that combined her positive vision for the country with an absolute takedown of Donald Trump.
She looked and sounded like she was going to walk off that stage right into the Oval Office.
But it’s important to remember that this race is far from over. It is going to be a grind. It is going to be nasty, and Trump and MAGAland are going to do everything they can to take her down.
One of the issues the Trump campaign is betting on is immigration. But what this week also showed us is that Harris and her campaign are not going to avoid the hot-button topic. They are going to address it head on.
In her speech on Thursday, Harris smartly emphasized her border record and the ways she has advocated for increased security. She gave us a preview of how she will challenge Trump during the September 10 presidential debate stage. “I refuse to play politics with our security,” she told the convention. “And here is my pledge to you: As president, I will bring back the bipartisan border security bill that he killed, and I will sign it into law.”
And this theme was present during earlier convention nights as well. Texas Sheriff Javier Salazar took the stage on Wednesday with a speech ready-made for a campaign ad. Salazar highlighted how Trump’s actions led to the collapse of the most prominent border reform bill in recent history. The appearance underscored how much Democrats do care about border security, and reaffirmed their commitment to the tough conversations.
This strategy isn’t just talk. Rep. Tom Suozzi, who won a tough special election in February replacing GOP Rep. George Santos, successfully embraced this same strategy. He addressed immigration issues directly and demonstrated that Democrats can be both strong on security and compassionate in policy.
This is a classic lesson in political communication: When facing a perceived weakness, confront it head-on. And on Wednesday and again on Thursday, we saw the Harris team do just that.
Read more exclusive insights from Jen Psaki here. And tune into "Inside with Jen Psaki" Mondays at 8 p.m. ET, and Sundays at 12 p.m. ET on MSNBC.
