There has been much advice circulating in Republican circles suggesting that Donald Trump should now change his campaign strategies from his persistent attacks on his rivals to focusing more on policy.
But one of the former president’s top allies told DailyMail.com that his strategy is sound and accused the media of causing any drop in polls or performance against Kamala Harris.
It’s been nearly a month since Vice President Harris filed to run for 2024 and she has yet to hold a press conference or sit down with reporters, and Trump’s team is tired of the media giving the Democratic nominee a “free pass.”
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) acknowledged that Trump should remain focused on policy but insisted that Harris must be “held accountable” to reporters for the Biden administration’s policies.
“The challenge that President Trump faces is that he’s not taking on Kamala Harris,” Johnson said. “He’s taking on someone who the media has put on a pedestal and basically proclaimed to be the new messiah.”
Senator Ron Johnson (R) told DailyMail.com at Trump Tower in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday that Donald Trump’s challenge in the new 2024 race is that he’s not actually up against Kamala Harris. “He’s up against someone who the media has put on a pedestal and basically proclaimed as the new messiah.”
“She’s not going to be scrutinised, she’s not going to be held accountable for the policies of the Biden administration. I guess she just has this vision of how great America can be,” the senator added, speaking to DailyMail.com at Trump Tower in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday.
“It’s hard to take on traditional corporate media when they do that to a candidate; they don’t ask tough questions.”
Johnson, the ranking Republican member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, joined fellow Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) for a news conference to tout Trump’s economic proposals at the former president’s estate in the city hosting the Democratic National Convention.
Trump’s representatives are holding press conferences every day of the Convention.
Asked about recent comments from Trump allies and Republican political strategists urging Trump to focus on policies rather than insults, Johnson said: “Yes, I obviously think we should focus on the contrast of policies, because what she’s proposing is literally astonishing.”
He then lashed out at Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, for his liberal ideologies.
“She already has the burden of selecting someone who is obviously a proponent and lover of Chinese communism, who promotes all kinds of socialist policies, and then puts forward those kinds of policies that simply confirm what people would suspect based on her selection,” the Wisconsin Republican told DailyMail.com.
“So again, it’s a challenge when you have the media totally focused on making sure she wins,” he concluded.
Some Republican allies and strategists say Trump needs to tone down his attacks and focus more on policy in the months leading up to the November election, but his representatives say his strategy is a good one.
Meanwhile, Sen. Scott chimed in, saying he thought the campaign was doing a “good job.”
“I think Trump has a message that resonates,” the Florida senator added. “If you look at these rallies, I mean, look at how many tens of thousands of people show up, and no one shows up to hers.”
“The fact that he can do a press conference and explain what he’s doing, and she can’t explain anything, right? So no, I think they’re doing a fabulous job of putting on a great race,” he continued.
“They are talking about the issues. He has political ideas that he can explain and defend.”
