Recent days have seen a flurry of criticism directed at Harris from GOP figures, ranging from her handling of immigration and her past prosecutorial record to personal jabs at her demeanor. Some attacks have crossed into racist and sexist territory, with terms like “DEI hire” and criticisms of her childless status. On Wednesday, Trump labeled Harris a “radical, left lunatic,” only to call her “nasty” the next day in a Fox News interview—a striking echo of the insults he hurled at Hillary Clinton in 2016. However, these attacks on Harris seem to be backfiring, as they appear to be drawing more voters to her side.

Trump’s allies have taken various approaches, accusing Harris of conspiring to mask President Biden’s alleged cognitive decline or suggesting she is a mere extension of Biden’s administration. Others have focused on her policy stances, such as environmental regulations and consumer choices, while her name remains mispronounced by some detractors.

Michael Brodkorb, a former deputy chair of the Minnesota Republican Party, remarked, “Republicans are grasping at straws. They wanted to run against Joe Biden, and the emergence of Harris has thrown their strategies into disarray.”

The chaotic nature of the GOP’s attacks reflects the novelty of Harris’s candidacy and the challenge Republicans face in pivoting from a campaign designed for an 81-year-old, white male incumbent to a younger, diverse vice president.

After Biden’s decision to withdraw and Harris’s entry into the race, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley indicated on Fox News that the shift would not affect broader Republican messaging. “President Trump will continue his campaign against the failed agenda of Joe Biden, whether it’s Kamala Harris or anyone else,” Whatley said.

However, Harris’s announcement led to a barrage of inconsistent attacks. Trump’s super PAC swiftly released an ad accusing Harris of covering up Biden’s mental decline and insinuating she had taken over his responsibilities. This was followed by a focus on her identity, including a resurfacing of comments by Trump’s current running mate, Sen. JD Vance, disparaging Harris and other Democrats as “childless cat ladies.” Harris’s stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff, responded on Instagram, pointing out that she has stepchildren.

Republican Representatives Tim Burchett and Harriet Hageman both labeled Harris a “DEI hire,” while Rep. Glenn Grothman suggested Democrats support her due to her ethnic background. In response to these comments, House Republican leaders instructed members to concentrate on Harris’s record rather than her race—a stance influenced by Trump’s previous birther conspiracy theories regarding her eligibility.

Some Republicans have avoided race and gender issues, focusing instead on Harris’s progressive policies and her record as California’s Attorney General.

Sen. Tom Cotton criticized her as a “San Francisco liberal” and accused her of being weak on crime. Meanwhile, other Republicans have criticized Harris for prosecuting a high number of drug-related offenses as California’s AG, while paradoxically denouncing her support for marijuana legalization.

Jason Roe, a Republican strategist in Michigan, noted that Republicans are testing multiple messages without a clear consensus on what resonates. “They’re throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks,” Roe said. “There’s still much to be defined about Harris.”

One consistent area of attack is Harris’s handling of immigration, particularly her role in addressing root causes of migration from Central America—a task the White House has framed as diplomatic rather than a direct border management role. Despite this, Trump and his allies have struggled to maintain a focused critique on this issue.

The Republican Senate campaign also included a memo labeling Harris’s quirks and preferences as “weird,” pointing at her laughter and her support for environmental policies. These traits, some of which have been used by Democrats to make Harris seem relatable, have become focal points in the GOP’s campaign strategy.

Ultimately, the challenge for Republicans is to solidify their message and develop a clear, compelling narrative as the campaign progresses.