In a strategic move to target young and independent voters, US Democrats have embraced a new attack line against former President Donald Trump, characterizing him as "weird." Vice President Kamala Harris, in a press release on Thursday, posed the question "Is Donald Trump OK?" and highlighted Trump's peculiarities as one of the main takeaways. This messaging was further reiterated by Harris during a fundraising event in Massachusetts, where she described Trump's and his running mate JD Vance's remarks about her as "just plain weird."

Harris, who is also the presumed Democratic nominee, is focusing on the youth vote and has made efforts to redefine the race. The campaign has given attention to Trump's rally storytelling, particularly his frequent references to fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter from "Silence of the Lambs," as well as the choice between a sinking electric boat or being eaten by a shark. This emphasis on Trump's eccentricities aims to simplify the warnings about the threat to democracy that he poses, which had dominated Joe Biden's re-election campaign for 15 months.

The trendline of labeling Trump as "weird" seemingly originated from Minnesota's Democratic governor, Tim Walz. He took to social media, posting "Say it with me: Weird," in response to a video of Trump discussing Lecter. Walz continued to describe Trump and Vance as "weird" in subsequent posts. When asked if "weird" had replaced the existential threat to democracy as a more effective attack strategy during a Sunday appearance on CNN's State of the Union, Walz responded, "It's an observation because being a schoolteacher I see a lot of things."

Walz further expressed concerns about the potential repercussions of a second Trump presidency, particularly on women's reproductive rights following the appointment of three conservative justices in the US Supreme Court. However, he argued against attributing Trump as the embodiment of a threat to democracy, stating that it gives him too much power. He emphasized the need to observe Trump's behavior, such as his strange laughter, and simply call it what it is – weird.

Other Democratic figures have also joined in on labeling Trump as "weird." US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a potential vice presidential pick for Harris, commented that Trump is "clearly older and stranger than when America first got to know him." Buttigieg highlighted concerns regarding Trump's age and acuity compared to Harris, who represents a younger generation.

The new Democratic line of branding Trump as "weird" emerged alongside criticism directed at Vance, not only for his derogatory comments towards Harris but also for resurfaced remarks denouncing Trump's moral character and expressing his hatred for police officers. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer labeled Vance's selection as an "incredibly bad choice" and described him as more erratic and extreme than President Trump himself.

These developments come as a recent ABC News/Ipsos poll indicates a rise in Harris's favorability rating, with a significant jump among independent voters. The poll also highlights a decrease in the percentage of "double haters" – voters who hold negative views towards both Biden and Trump – with more individuals developing favorable opinions of Harris.

As the campaign progresses, it remains to be seen if the Democrats' "weird" tagline will resonate with the target audience and contribute to shaping public opinion in the 100-day contest between Trump and Harris.