Trump must protect his title as the ‘candidate of change’ from Harris

Donald Trump found Joe Biden to be rejuvenating and stimulating.

Despite Trump’s common campaign tactics becoming stale, they appeared captivating compared to the lackluster United States president who had lost his essence.

Now that the contrast between Trump and Biden is no longer relevant, the former president is navigating a less forgiving landscape.

Kamala Harris aims to run a campaign centered on youth vs. age and future vs. past against Trump, with some potential for success.

Against Biden, Trump symbolized the past, yet also change. Against Harris, he represents potentially just the past.

The issue is not solely about age, as it is now primarily concerning Trump. Ronald Reagan was older when he took office, but he offered a shift in policy direction and exuded a youthful, optimistic, and patriotic demeanor.

For Trump, the problem lies in feeling familiar, worn out, and exhausted.

The recent Mar-a-Lago press conference epitomized a typical Trump event — he appeared authoritative amid a backdrop of American flags, yet how many times have we witnessed this image?

He displayed a mix of characteristics — on message and off message, confident and defensive, charming and insulting, and so on.

Again, this repetition becomes tiresome.

Even Trump’s controversies are no longer shocking. While his attack on Kamala may not have been entirely predictable, such actions are not surprising.

We have seen cycles of hope for a new, disciplined candidate shattered by Trump’s insistence on doing things his way.

None of this mattered greatly against an elderly 81-year-old man whom the majority believed was unfit for another term. Biden was stuck in the past in his actions and words.

Kamala Harris may not be cutting-edge, but she is still more contemporary than Trump.

She possesses enough energy for intensive campaigning and positions herself as a distinct force: neither Biden nor Trump, but a politician with a fresh “vibe.”

Harris also has an advantage.

It was challenging to conceal Biden’s shortcomings. Despite limited interviews, he had public appearances — at international meetings, White House events, and more.

The public could witness his stumbling, aimlessness, and lapses in coherence, regardless of Democratic reassurances.

With Harris, Republicans could argue that she may falter in interviews, but that cannot be proven without giving her the opportunity.

She presents well on teleprompter – articulate, humorous, determined, and buoyed by enthusiastic crowds.

Crucially, Trump was a contender for bringing change against Biden. Now, he is in a close race with Harris on who can deliver positive change.

According to a new CNBC poll, Harris sits at 39% on this question, with Trump at 38%.

Trump has ample material to edge ahead on this front.

His past achievements are remembered with varying degrees of fondness, whereas she has been part of a failed administration and currently endorses most of Biden’s policies.

However, the case cannot be made by itself. It is not sufficient to be just not Kamala Harris, as it was not to be Joe Biden.

Trump must launch strategic attacks that break through without getting lost in unnecessary controversies.

This poses a tactical question: if the choice is between a disciplined but overly controlled candidate (Harris) and an undisciplined candidate who goes off message (Trump), is it clear that the former is worse than the latter?

Trump faces a new challenge — his opponent is no longer an aged incumbent president who has exhausted his appeal.

Twitter: @RichLowry