%20(1).png)
Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign is making headlines for its plan to troll
former President Donald Trump during a highly anticipated college football game
between Alabama and Georgia. The campaign has arranged for a plane to fly a
banner over Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where Trump is
expected to attend. The banner will read “Trump’s Punting on 2nd Debate,” a
pointed jab at Trump’s refusal to participate in a second debate with Harris, who
had accepted a debate offer from CNN for October 23
This move coincides with the SEC showdown between two of the top-ranked
college football teams and is expected to be seen by tens of thousands of
attendees and millions watching at home. Along with the banner flyover, the Harris
campaign will air a national ad during the game that reinforces the same message
. The ad casts Trump as a candidate avoiding confrontation, with the narrator
stating that “winners never back down from a challenge,” and depicting Trump as
unwilling to engage Harris on the debate stage
The political stunt has garnered mixed reactions. Harris’s team sees this as an
opportunity to highlight Trump’s evasiveness, while some observers argue that
such maneuvers may be more about gaining visibility during a high-profile event
rather than significantly impacting voter opinions. Trump has previously stated he
sees no need for further debates, especially at this point in the election cycle
This event comes in the wake of the first debate between the two candidates,
where many commentators felt Harris emerged as the stronger debater. Trump’s
refusal to participate in a second debate has fueled speculation about his
strategy, with some of his advisers reportedly suggesting that another debate
could be beneficial in addressing key issues Harris has raised about his record
In the broader context, this banner is part of a series of anti-Trump efforts by the
Democratic National Committee, which has flown similar banners over major
college football games in battleground states throughout the month. These tactics
reflect the high stakes of the upcoming election, where both sides are vying for
attention in unconventional ways
While the flyover might be seen as a clever jab by Harris’s campaign, the
effectiveness of such moves remains debatable. Some analysts point out that
while the stunt may attract attention, it might not substantially sway voters,
particularly those already entrenched in their political views
However, in a tight election race, these efforts to generate buzz and keep Trump on
the defense could have a cumulative effect in energizing Harris's base and
reinforcing her narrative as the more willing and ready candidate.
