PHILADELPHIA, PA – As Republicans like U.S. Representative Don Bacon dodge questions about their support for Donald Trump, Democrats are stepping up efforts to spotlight such hesitance in their campaigns. The strategy aims to exploit divisions within the Republican Party, leveraging Trump’s controversial standing to gain an advantage in battleground states for the 2024 elections.
Bacon, when asked at a Nebraska town hall about his support for Trump’s White House bid, avoided the question. Democrats quickly publicized the exchange online, suggesting that Bacon “refuses to tell Nebraskans if he supports Trump.”
Democratic strategists believe that forcing Republicans to clarify their stance on Trump will weaken their appeal to moderate and independent voters. Jennifer Holdsworth, a Democratic strategist, said, “Republicans are contorting themselves to not alienate Trump supporters while appealing to the more moderate parts of their party.”
Democrats are ramping up efforts to capture Republican candidates on camera as they navigate questions about Trump. Political “trackers” are being hired in North Carolina, Arizona, and Pennsylvania to attend Republican events and provide “same day footage” of such interactions.
Republican party officials counter that Democrats should focus on President Joe Biden’s declining approval ratings rather than targeting GOP vulnerabilities tied to Trump. Emma Vaughn, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, said, “Biden’s approval ratings have been underwater since his botched Afghanistan withdrawal.”
Nonetheless, Democrats are keen on amplifying the strategy. American Bridge 21st Century, a major Democratic operation specializing in research, tracking, and rapid response, plans to expand its tracking activities in 2024. President Pat Dennis said, “The operation is going to be bigger than it’s ever been.”
Republicans in suburban districts are particularly vulnerable to this strategy, Dennis noted, due to Trump’s divisive impact on their party in these areas.
The effort comes amid a complex political landscape where both Trump and Biden maintain relatively low national favorability ratings, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. Yet Democrats see an opportunity to gain ground by making Trump’s controversial image a focal point in competitive districts.