Peruse, if you will, what I believe is one of the first press releases from the Harris campaign, released after a Fox News appearance by Donald Trump earlier today:
![](https://i0.wp.com/whatever.scalzi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/452997425_1195809611594625_4375274938671618997_n.jpg?resize=639%2C880&ssl=1)
Two points to make here. The first is that not only are the gloves off, they were never on in the first place. The second is that one advantage that the GOP had in the last two election cycles — the presumption that the Democrats would always “go high” when they went low — is very clear no longer operable.
I don’t know if Trump and the GOP are actually prepared for the Harris campaign to treat them with the respect they deserve, which is to say, none whatsoever. This is different than saying that Trump and company aren’t prepared to go low; they’ve been in the gutter so long that it’s now their high ground. What I’m saying is that it’s harder to effectively stab your opponent when she’s busy punching you in the face, and wearing brass knuckles when she’s doing it.
Which is again a reminder: 2024 is not 2020 or 2016. I’m curious to see if the Trump campaign will be able to understand that.
— JS