Although we are in the penultimate weeks of the 2024 presidential campaign, one might think it is 2023 again. That’s because Vice President Kamala Harris has largely settled on a penultimate campaign message that sounds a lot like the idea that President Joe Biden made the centerpiece of his campaign: that Donald Trump represents an existential threat to American democracy.

It’s the message she made clear on Wednesday amid reports from the Atlantic and New York Times in which Trump’s former chief of staff John Kelly said publicly that Trump “is certainly an authoritarian, admires people who are dictators,” is fitting “the general definition of fascist” and once said he needed “the kind of generals Hitler had.”

In a press conference Wednesday afternoon at her official residence in Washington, D.C., Harris argued the reports were “further evidence to the American people of who Donald Trump really is…We know what Donald Trump wants. He wants unchecked power.” She then made similar attacks on Trump on CNN Wednesday night, saying clearly that she thinks Trump is a “fascist” and believes voters “care about our democracy” and “don’t have a president of the United States who is a dictator.” admired”. and is a fascist.”

This change in tone represents a shift but is not an anomaly. After a “roast summer” full of good vibes, memes and encouraging messages about “not going back,” Harris has taken a more serious tone in his messaging over the last few weeks about the threats Trump poses.

Last week on Fox News, she cited Trump’s comments this month that the U.S. must defend itself against “the enemy within” and that it may be necessary to deal with those perceived enemies “through the National Guard if necessary or, if truly necessary, by the military”.

Then this week on NBC News, Harris called the election an opportunity for voters to decide “whether we are a country that values ​​a president who respects his duty to uphold the Constitution of the United States,” Donald Trump has announced “To repeal the Constitution of the United States.” And next week, Harris is expected to make the same argument from the National Mall in her final case before the American people.

For Biden, this “threats to democracy” argument appeared to be an attempt to mobilize the Democratic base, inject a sense of urgency into his unpopular re-election bid and hope that the anti-Trump energy that drove his victory in the year 2020 and the Democrats’ victories in 2018, comes back into force and the 2022 midterm elections could lead to a final departure from Trump. It was the “Dobbs and Democracy” strategy — a strategy aimed at reminding people that Trump was responsible for the loss of national abortion protections and that he repeatedly flouted democratic norms during his time in office. Based on Biden’s polling, that message didn’t work.

Harris’ recent return to a Democratic message appears to be a response to the closeness of the presidential contest in battleground states. Polls show she has largely been unable to gain a stronger foothold among independents or make further gains among swing-state voters after an initial surge in support following her party’s nomination. There are only a very small proportion of undecided voters in these states – so distancing yourself from the fringes of Trump support could make all the difference.

That’s partly why these appeals to protect democracy are being made to a moderate and dissatisfied Republican audience. Starting with an event with former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney in September – where Cheney said that as “someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution” she supported Harris “because of the danger that Donald Trump poses” – Harris was on a multi-state campaign swing specifically aimed at giving moderate Republicans a chance to cross party lines and support a Harris bid.

Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, summed up that strategy when questioned by him Tuesday evening Daily Show Host Jon Stewart on Harris’ embrace of Cheney.

“There are a lot of people out there on the Constitution. I think Liz Cheney and Dick Cheney are giving permission to people who want to find a reason to do the right thing,” Walz said.

According to an Associated Press report, Harris’ team believes that these kinds of appeals and reminders of Trump’s extreme rhetoric — such as running digital ads highlighting Trump’s renaming of January 6 as a “Day of Love” — can help ” about 10% of voters “in battleground states” who may be persuaded because they are undecided or soft supporters of Trump.

The percentage of undecided voters will only continue to fall as Election Day approaches – and the results will show how successful Harris’ strategy has been.