Republican strategist Frank Luntz has voiced strong criticisms of Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign tactics, especially her concentrated criticism of former President Donald Trump.

During an appearance on ABC’s This Week, Luntz described the advice given to Harris to focus on Trump as detrimental to her appeal among undecided voters.

According to Luntz, these voters were already disenchanted with both political figures.

They perceived Trump as polarizing and offensive, yet they were equally critical of Harris for not clearly articulating her plans for presidency.

Undecided Voters Frustrated by Lack of Clarity

These undecided voters, Luntz noted, were particularly interested in understanding what Harris intended to do in her first days in office.

Their need for detailed plans went unmet, contributing to their reluctance to support her candidacy.

“They did not like either candidate. That was clear. They thought that Trump was offensive and abusive in his language and polarizing, but in the end, she didn’t answer the question that they wanted to know. What are you going to do in the first hour, in the first day, in the first week, in the first month and so on?” Luntz explained.

The voters felt they had the right to this information, and Harris’s failure to provide it led them to withhold their votes, Luntz added.

Constant Changes in Position Leave Voters Bewildered

Luntz also criticized Harris for her frequent shifts in policy positions, which he said were not sufficiently explained to the electorate. This lack of transparency left many voters feeling uncertain and mistrustful.

“They felt she never came clean with what she wanted to do, and the fact she changed her positions in some issues, she never really explained it,” Luntz stated, highlighting a significant hurdle in her campaign’s connection with voters.

This sentiment was echoed in the discussion led by show host Jonathan Karl, who probed deeper into the reasons why undecided voters were not swayed by Harris.

Discussion of Trump Overshadows Harris’s Campaign

Karl questioned whether Harris’s focus on criticizing Trump might have overshadowed her own policy proposals. “Did she talk too much about Trump?” Karl asked, suggesting that the emphasis on Trump might have diverted attention from her own vision.

Luntz affirmed this concern, noting, “It was too much defining what Trump was. We all know what Trump is. We experienced him for four years. Whoever told her to focus on him committed political malpractice because in the end, you cannot change someone’s point of view on him, it was all about her.”

This strategic misstep, according to Luntz, was a critical error.

By focusing too much on Trump, Harris failed to present herself as a distinct and compelling alternative, which was essential to gaining the support of those still on the fence.

Implications for Future Political Campaigns

The feedback from Luntz offers a cautionary tale for political campaigns. Engaging undecided voters requires a clear, communicative approach that focuses more on one’s own policies than on the shortcomings of opponents.

This episode serves as a stark reminder of the need for candidates to articulate their plans and visions transparently and compellingly to garner broader support.

In conclusion, the dialogue between Luntz and Karl on ABC’s This Week sheds light on the strategic pitfalls that can alienate voters and influence the outcome of electoral campaigns.