Vice President Kamala Harris released her first campaign ad on Thursday, slamming her Republican rival Donald Trump’s conviction and casting herself as the candidate who wants a country where “no one is above the law.”
The ad highlights Ms. Harris’ record as a prosecutor and contrasts her anti-unrest vision with that of Republican candidates Mr. Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), who themselves campaigned on a law-and-order platform.
The ad used a publicly-released mugshot of Trump that appeared in an indictment in a federal case filed in Georgia over allegedly trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Harris’ campaign has touted her record as San Francisco’s district attorney and attorney general, and cast her as a powerful litigator who can go after Trump.
“What kind of country do we want to live in? Some believe it should be a country of chaos, fear and hatred,” Harris says in the ad, with photos of Trump and Vance in the background. “But we choose different. We choose freedom.”
The ad was released just days after President Biden suspended his reelection campaign and named Harris as his successor, putting her at the top of his list of candidates.
The video, featured on social media platforms, already includes footage of rally-goers holding signs for Harris rather than Biden, who prior to the ad’s release had only campaigned twice as the presumptive Democratic nominee.
“Not just the freedom to survive, but the freedom to thrive. The freedom to protect yourself from gun violence. The freedom to make decisions about your own body,” Harris continues in the ad.
“We choose a future where no child lives in poverty. We choose a future where we can all afford health care and no one is above the law,” Harris said, showing a photo of Trump’s mugshot from when he was indicted on election fraud charges in Georgia.
“We believe in the American promise, and we’re ready to fight for it. Because if we fight, we will win. So join us.”
Since Biden withdrew, no Democratic candidate has announced their intention to run against Harris, making it highly likely that Harris will become the Democratic candidate.
Biden’s successor will be chosen virtually by Democratic National Committee delegates in the first week of August to avoid issues with closing the polls before the Democratic National Convention on August 19.
