In a recent development, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has outlined a new strategy to hit Vice President Kamala Harris on multiple fronts, labeling her as too liberal, responsible for the border crisis, and "weird." A confidential memo obtained by Axios reveals that Republicans are shifting their election playbook to paint Harris as a radical progressive, with the aim of securing down-ballot victories for their candidates.

The memo, sent to campaigns on Monday, emphasizes the importance of reminding voters that President Joe Biden himself doubted Harris' chances of defeating former President Donald Trump. NRSC executive director Jason Thielman wrote, "It is important to remember the only reason Joe Biden held on as long as he did was by aggressively making the case that his Vice President is an even worse candidate than him."

Citing polling data, the document highlights that Harris is viewed as, if not more, unpopular than President Biden in every competitive state. The Republican strategy revolves around positioning Harris as a "radical" progressive, drawing attention to her past ranking as the most liberal senator, along with her support for banning fracking, decriminalizing illegal border crossings, and eliminating cash bail, among other controversial stances.

Immigration emerges as the first policy issue in the memo, with Republicans consistently attributing record illegal border crossings to Harris, who was assigned by Biden to address the "root causes" of migration earlier this year. The GOP also includes a category labeled "weird," mocking Harris for her perceived habit of laughing at inappropriate moments, her love for Venn diagrams, and her call to ban plastic straws.

The withdrawal of an embattled President Biden from the Democratic ticket has forced Republicans to rewrite their plan for victory, with a need to recut ads and shift their focus. Despite the challenges, Republican operatives express real vulnerabilities for Harris and find solace in the fact that the party seems to be coalescing around attacking her rather than other Democratic stars like Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro or Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

In conclusion, the NRSC's latest memo signals the GOP's intention to aggressively tie their opponents to Harris' "extreme agenda." The strategy aims to capitalize on her perceived weaknesses as a candidate, underscored by her decision to drop out of the presidential race prior to the Iowa caucuses and her lower polling numbers compared to competitors. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee dismisses the Republican attacks, claiming that their stronger candidate selection will ensure victory in Senate races.

While the NRSC's approach underscores their desire to gain leverage in the upcoming elections, it remains to be seen how successful this strategy will be in swaying voters and impacting down-ballot races.