WASHINGTON – With the Democratic convention concluded, Donald Trump’s response tour also came to an end, but his battle to position Kamala Harris and protect himself continues.

Throughout a week of campaigning in key states, it became apparent that Trump needs to keep working on defining Harris, countering Democratic mockery, and acknowledging that the sitting vice president has higher approval ratings than President Joe Biden had prior to his withdrawal from the 2024 election race last month.

On Friday, Trump made his latest effort to bounce back.

Via social media, the GOP presidential contender attempted to address the abortion topic, claiming that his administration “will greatly support women and their reproductive rights.” This statement led to further ridicule from Democrats, who highlighted how Trump’s three Supreme Court nominees played a role in the reversal of Roe v. Wade and noted that a significant part of his voter base aims to impose abortion bans.

During his events wrapping up the week in Nevada and Arizona, he also received an endorsement from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., an independent candidate who has decided to halt his presidential campaign.

The campaign moves into a post-convention phase now, expected to persist until the first debate between Trump and Harris, which is set for September 10, located less than a mile from Philadelphia’s historic Independence Hall.

In this period, Trump’s agenda includes:

Narrowing the Gap

Trump’s campaign team anticipated that Harris’ approval ratings would increase following the Democratic convention. They now aim to reduce that gap in the coming weeks by highlighting what Trump refers to as her “extreme” track record.

The strategy for doing this, however, has sparked debate within the Trump campaign, a topic Trump has publicly acknowledged.

During his post-convention tour, Trump pointed out inflation, immigration, conflicts abroad, and the state of the economy as crucial issues in his rivalry with Harris. Additionally, he has made some of the most aggressive critiques ever voiced by a major party candidate, often branding Harris as a “communist” and “Marxist,” phrases echoing historical “Red Scares.”

Personal vs. Policy: What Approach to Take?

Some Republican officials worry that Trump’s aggressive style might alienate moderate voters, and Trump himself appears uncertain about the approach to adopt.

The former president has mentioned the internal debate on how best to tackle Harris and his running mate Tim Walz.

In Asheboro, N.C., during a recent event, Trump noted the advice he frequently receives to be more courteous – “’please, sir, don’t get personal; focus on policy'” – and he posed two questions to the audience: “Should I go personal? Should I not?”

The audience responded with a strong preference for “personal.”

After humorously declaring “my advisors are fired,” Trump concluded: “No, we’d prefer to emphasize policy. But it’s tough when you’re attacked from all sides.”

Rebuilding Bridges

Following the Democratic convention, Trump aims to repair relationships with some Republicans he’s had conflicts with over the years, particularly Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.

In a recent rally in Atlanta, Trump once again criticized Kemp for not supporting his claims about the 2020 election outcome in Georgia. Many Republicans have questioned Trump’s outbursts, given Kemp’s strong voter mobilization efforts in this competitive state.

On Thursday, just moments prior to Harris’ acceptance speech at the convention held in Chicago, Trump took to Truth Social to express his appreciation to the Georgia governor, stating: “Thank you to #BrianKempGA for all your assistance and support in Georgia, where a victory is crucial for the success of our Party and, most importantly, our Country. I look forward to collaborating with you, your team, and my friends in Georgia to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Trump mentioned that his remarks followed a favorable interview featuring Kemp on Fox News with host Sean Hannity. Additionally, he reconciled with Kennedy, a former rival he had previously labeled as radical. At an event in Las Vegas promoting his “no tax on tips policy,” Trump expressed gratitude to Kennedy for his “very nice endorsement.”

Defensive Maneuvers

During the Democratic convention week, Trump primarily focused on defense, and this trend is not expected to change anytime soon.

In Chicago, Harris and various Democrats criticized the Republican nominee for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, his hush money trial conviction, and the sexual abuse judgments against him. They also highlighted his threats to utilize government power to investigate political adversaries and the conservative agenda to cut essential services and limit abortion rights.

“In many respects, Donald Trump is an unserious individual,” Harris stated in her acceptance speech. “However, the implications of reinstating Donald Trump in the White House are profoundly serious.”

As Trump reacted to Harris’ speech through live tweets, he asked: “IS SHE TALKING ABOUT ME?”

This week, the former president also addressed accusations aimed at him and running mate JD Vance, claiming they were “weird.”

While launching his counter-convention tour in York, Pennsylvania, Trump responded to Biden’s remarks about him and Vance being weird, asserting: “We’re actually very normal people, just like you. He’s the weird one.”

Abortion Concerns

Trump showed notable concern regarding the subject of abortion rights.

As his tour concluded on Friday, Trump made a vague statement on Truth Social, saying: “My Administration will do great things for women and their reproductive rights.”

Democrats were quick to highlight that during his presidency, Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling. Trump has stated that he believes states should govern abortion policies, implicitly supporting new laws that would ban the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy.

“Donald Trump has waged a battle against women’s reproductive rights,” asserted Ammar Moussa, rapid response director for the Harris campaign. “Now he’s trying to distance himself from his past actions. It won’t be effective.”

Long before the Republican and Democratic conventions, Trump frequently warned about the political dangers for Republicans concerning abortion, a topic that is unlikely to fade away in the campaign’s remaining two and a half months.

Prepare for Election Protests 2024

Democrats in Chicago raised alarms about Trump potentially challenging the vote if he loses in the upcoming November election, similar to his actions four years ago, which led to the January 6, 2021, insurrection.

In interviews, Trump stated that he would not contest the election if it is deemed “free and fair.” During the last election, many officials assured him of its legitimacy, yet he proceeded with lawsuits and pressured lawmakers for a change in the outcome.

“If I lose, I believe this country will experience a downturn like never before – comparable to 1929 – but if I do lose fairly and lawfully, I will accept the outcome,” Trump told CBS News.

He also mentioned his belief that there are “numerous problems” concerning the 2020 election but added: “I believe that various changes have taken place over the past four years . This will ensure the election is both free and fair.”