Targeting Enemy Territory – Harris Runs Ad Campaign on Fox News + $25K Housing Down Payment Support

*Vice President Kamala Harris‘ campaign has initiated a surprising move this week — it’s targeting Fox News viewers to expand her voter base. The campaign started running four prominent ads on the network, confirmed by a Fox News spokesperson to Axios.

Fox News, typically known for its conservative slant, surprisingly boasts an ideologically diverse viewership during daytime programming. This unique audience has caught the attention of the Harris campaign, which is keen to reach as many potential voters as possible.

These new ads paint a positive picture of Harris’ life, juxtaposing sharply with the often critical portrayal she receives on the network.

The Harris team’s approach is not entirely unprecedented. Last year, President Biden’s campaign also ran ads on Fox News to counter the Republican primary debate, as reported by Semafor.

This move is part of a broader, costly strategy by both the Harris and Trump campaigns to shape public perception in the crucial initial weeks following Harris’ nomination. The lion’s share of these ads focuses on Harris, with both the Trump and Harris camps striving to sway voter sentiment.

In one of the ads, the narrator underscores Harris’ middle-class roots, contrasting her background with Donald Trump’s. “Kamala Harris knows what it’s like to be middle class,” the narrator states, adding, “Donald Trump has no plan to help the middle class,” attempting to differentiate their economic policies starkly.

The Harris campaign referenced a senior leadership memo outlining its extensive ad purchases in August. Principal Deputy Campaign Manager Quentin Fulks emphasized this to Axios.

“It is precisely through efforts like this that we will break through a crowded media environment early and make clear the choice and stakes of this election for the voters who will decide it.”

The campaigns’ financial outlay is substantial. From July 21 through Labor Day on September 2, both campaigns plan to spend over $300 million on TV and digital ads, according to the ad tracking firm AdImpact. This spending represents a notable increase compared to the 2020 election, particularly concentrated in the month of August.

Harris’ $25,000 Housing AssistanceIn another significant development, Vice President Harris is set to announce a new economic package aimed at first-time homeowners. According to ABC News, this proposal includes up to $25,000 in down payment support. This initiative is designed to assist middle-class voters who are facing significant challenges in the housing market.

However, there are concerns about the broader impact of this plan. While the down payment support would undoubtedly provide greater purchasing power to many potential homeowners, it could further inflate home prices in an already competitive market. As explained by Emily Peck, co-author of Axios Markets:

“The down payment support would give far more people the ability to purchase, increasing the number of buyers competing for houses.”

Harris’ plan also includes ambitious construction targets to address housing supply issues, calling for the creation of 3 million new housing units by the end of 2028. This is an increase from the 2 million units proposed by the Biden administration. While these measures aim to alleviate housing shortages, they do not address the influence of interest rates, which are controlled by the Federal Reserve.

As Harris continues her dual-pronged strategy of targeted advertising and policy proposals, she aims to clearly differentiate her platform from Trump’s, particularly focusing on middle-class and housing issues. These moves signal a concerted effort to secure key voter demographics and maintain momentum in the initial stages of her campaign.

eurnews