A CNN panel on Monday night weighed in on former Donald Trump's comment over the weekend — in which he called Vice President Kamala Harris a "mentally disabled person" — with bipartisan agreement that Trump's strategy appears to be geared now toward serving up red meat to gin-up his base rather than chase undecided voters.
Anchor Anderson Cooper asked his panel — made up of Democratic strategist David Axelrod, former Harris campaign Communications Director Ashley Etienne and former Trump campaign official Matt Mowers.
Axelrod told Cooper Trump appears to be in "final stretch mode."
"I think he thinks this is a turnout election and he is just shoveling red meat to the base," said Axelrod.
He added that he's not sold on the idea that Trump's advisers would agree there's "any real advantage" in "throwing juvenile taunts" at the other side that are "deeply offensive to a lot of people" — including people in Trump's camp.
"I don't know what he gains from that," said Axelrod.
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Axelrod pointed to Trump's strong rhetoric on immigration, crime, and "made-up stories" about Springfield, Ohio, are all reflections of how the former president sees the race.
"It's close and he's trying to gin up the base," said Axelrod, later noting Trump is "gambling" with his recent remarks and trying to motivate disengaged voters.
Etienne noted that about a third of the public remains unsure about Harris.
"She needs to speak directly to those folks," said Etienne, comparing Trump to a "fire."
"What do you do to a fire to put it out? You suffocate it. You give it no more oxygen. Ignore it," she said.
Harris ought to focus on telling her own story, said Etienne, and answer "why" she's the right leader.
"I just suggest she take a bigger risk in telling that story," she said, advocating for more town halls and "intimate" settings.
In doing so, she ought to bypass national media, said Etienne, and go directly to influencers.
Mowers agreed with Axelrod and said he believes they're looking at an "ever-decreasing" number of people whose minds are not made up.
"Trump is going to go out there and gin up enthusiasm for his base," said Mowers.
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