Republicans refocus 2024 campaign on border issues, challenge Vice President Harris

WASHINGTON (TND) — Republicans are trying to turn the 2024 campaign conversation back to the border by challenging Kamala Harris on her record. Part of the Vice President’s defense is to ask what Republicans did to try and fix the problem.

“The unfortunate truth is because of the poison that Kamala Harris has let come into this country, there are a lot of those prayers that won't be answered" said Sen. JD Vance, R-Vice Presidential Candidate, during a stop at Arizona's southern border.

Vance was blaming the Vice President for a border crisis and fentanyl deaths. He frequently hit what he called “the Harris administration” as Republicans attempt to tie her to all of President Joe Biden’s policies.

It’s also a pivot away from some bad headlines. Even members of Vance’s own party were baffled by his insults towards “childless cat ladies" that he resurfaced and doubled down on recently.

“It was offensive to me as a woman. Women make their own determinations as to whether or not they're going to have children," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, when asked about the comments.

Shifting towards border policy is more in line with what the Trump-Vance campaign looks to hit Harris on.

The likely Democratic nominee is fighting back against the “weak on the border” claims with ads and allies. Her team released a campaign video touting her support for a border bill that died in Congress. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, who has been floated as a potential Harris V.P., backed Harris in an interview with MSNBC and slammed Trump for allegedly tanking that deal.

“What did they do several months ago? We had a bipartisan bill that we negotiated faithfully with the administration, both sides of the aisle, and Donald Trump said Senate Republicans can’t vote for it," said Kelly.

Vance defended the bill’s failure.

“The bipartisan border deal was actually a massive giveaway to illegal immigrants. It would not have solved any of the problems that Kamala Harris has caused," he said Thursday.

While border arrests ballooned under Biden’s presidency, they’ve plummeted lately with July numbers expected to be the lowest since September of 2020. Both the Biden, and the Republican Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, are taking credit for it.