VP’s Bold Move: ‘Republicans for Harris’ Launched to Woo Disillusioned GOP Voters

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<p>WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign is launching “Republicans for Harris” in an effort to attract Republican voters disillusioned with Donald Trump's candidacy. This initiative will mainly target primary voters who supported former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.</p>                    

<p>The program, described by Harris' team as a “campaign within a campaign,” will begin with events in Arizona, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania this week. Prominent Republicans backing Harris will appear at rallies alongside the vice president and her soon-to-be-announced running mate.</p>                   

<p>Austin Weatherford, Harris' national director of Republican outreach, emphasized the focus on creating a "permission structure" for GOP voters to support Harris. He argued that disillusionment with Trump's extremism would drive many Republicans to vote against him in November.</p>  

<p>Weatherford, formerly chief of staff to ex-Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who had endorsed the Biden-Harris ticket prior to Biden’s debate performance against Trump, outlined a strategy of Republican-to-Republican voter contact.</p>                   

<p>Kinzinger, who gained national prominence for his role on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, is once again endorsing Harris. “As a proud conservative, I never thought I’d be endorsing a Democrat for President,” he stated. “But I know Vice President Harris will defend our democracy and ensure Donald Trump never returns to the White House.”</p>                  

<p>Trump has yet to make efforts to court moderate Republican voters. Recently, he criticized Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who opposed Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.</p>                   

<p>In a past effort to sway Republican voters, the Biden-Harris campaign released an ad featuring former Trump staffers criticizing him and highlighting Trump’s derogatory comments towards Haley. Hundreds of thousands of registered Republicans participated in primaries for Haley even after she ended her presidential bid.</p>                   

<p>The Harris campaign's coalition includes notable Republicans such as former Govs. Bill Weld of Massachusetts and Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey, former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Additionally, 16 former Republican members of Congress including Kinzinger, Joe Walsh, and Susan Molinari are supporting Harris.</p>                   

<p>Former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham also endorsed Harris, saying, “I might not agree with Vice President Kamala Harris on everything, but I know that she will fight for our freedom, protect our democracy and represent America with honor and dignity on the world stage.”</p>

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