In anticipation of a possible scenario where President Biden withdraws as the Democratic nominee, the Trump campaign is gearing up to launch an aggressive attack against Vice President Kamala Harris. According to sources familiar with the matter, the campaign plans to unleash a series of advertisements highlighting Harris's record as vice president and her tenure in California.

The Trump team has already compiled opposition research books on Harris, along with similar dossiers on other potential Democratic nominees should Biden step aside. However, a majority of their preparations have been focused on Harris. Recently, the campaign conducted a poll to gauge vulnerabilities in a potential general election matchup with her.

The decision to focus on Harris stems from the assumption that bypassing the first Black woman to serve as vice president would intensify divisions within the Democratic Party and risk alienating their base of Black voters. In addition to Harris, the campaign is also scrutinizing the records of Democratic governors who are being considered as potential running mates for her. Notably, they are closely examining Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, a key swing state crucial for Trump's chances of securing a second term.

A spokesperson for the Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment on their strategy. Meanwhile, Brian Fallon, a spokesperson for Harris's campaign, fired back at Trump, accusing him of lying about her record. Fallon emphasized Harris's experience as a former district attorney and attorney general, asserting that she has consistently stood up against fraudsters and criminals like Trump throughout her career. He vowed that Trump's falsehoods would not deter Harris from prosecuting the case against him on the significant issues of the race.

Following Biden's lackluster debate performance on June 27, the Trump campaign, in a strategic move, toned down their criticisms of the president. They are now hoping that Biden remains politically viable until he is formally nominated by the party, making it impractical to replace him without facing major legal obstacles. Trump's senior team perceives Biden's low approval ratings and doubts about his age and cognitive fitness as the former president's best chance of reclaiming the White House.

The Trump team had initially planned to launch advertisements targeting Biden after the debate, but those plans were put on hold after an attempted assassination of Trump in Pennsylvania. As the nation grappled with the shocking incident, pressure on Biden to withdraw briefly subsided, causing the Trump campaign to believe their contingency plans regarding Harris were no longer necessary.

While the Trump campaign always intended to include Harris in their narrative, the possibility of a change at the top of the ticket has heightened their urgency to define her and reinforce a lackluster image that has troubled Democrats. However, this approach presents new risks as Trump would be running against another history-making candidate, potentially endangering his hopes of attracting significant support from Black voters.

Privately, some Trump aides acknowledge that Harris may be more effective at delivering certain messages than Biden, particularly on issues like abortion rights that have energized Democrats in recent elections. As a former prosecutor, Harris could also present a strong argument against Trump's criminal indictments, such as his conviction in Manhattan on charges related to a hush-money payment to a porn star.

Nevertheless, the Trump campaign believes that Harris would be held accountable for all the unpopular policies of the Biden administration, thereby nullifying any gains she may make. One area they intend to target is the border crisis, a pressing issue that the president has tasked Harris with addressing the "root causes" of. Harris's team contends that Trump has distorted her role and points to a decrease in border crossings since the Biden administration tightened asylum policies.

As the 2024 presidential campaigns continue to unfold, the Trump campaign appears determined to be well-prepared to attack Vice President Harris should the need arise. Their extensive efforts to gather opposition research and scrutinize potential running mates underscore the intensity surrounding this contingency plan, as the stakes remain high for both parties in this closely watched race.