Trump's attacks on Kamala Harris haven't landed

President Trump and Kamala Harris.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Getty Images, iStock)

A reminder: When Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California) appears on the debate stage tonight, it's because she is the Democratic nominee for vice president — even though President Trump seems to wish she was the presidential nominee instead.

For a week or two in August — after Joe Biden named Harris as his running mate — it appeared the president's campaign would shift the focus of its attacks and negative advertising from Biden to Harris. Trump launched a series of racist and sexist attacks on Harris and falsely hinted that she is ineligible to serve on the ticket, while his surrogates spread word that she would be the real power in a Biden White House — Biden would be her "puppet."

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Joel Mathis, The Week US

Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.