Kamala Harris Unveils Campaign Ad with Beyoncé’s ‘Freedom’

Vice President Kamala Harris has officially launched her first campaign ad as she embarks on her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. This strategic move comes shortly after her announcement to run, prompting a swift and intense effort to familiarize voters with her policy positions, personal background, and campaign promises. With the election looming less than four months away, Harris’s campaign is working quickly to establish her presence and differentiate her from her competitors.

The advertisement, titled “We Choose Freedom,” is designed to resonate strongly with viewers through its compelling use of music and imagery. Harris narrates the ad while Beyoncé’s powerful anthem “Freedom” plays in the background. This choice of music is significant, reflecting a high-profile endorsement from Beyoncé, who has allowed Harris to use the song throughout her campaign. The collaboration was symbolically reinforced when Harris entered the Biden-Harris campaign headquarters to the same song, creating a memorable and motivational atmosphere for her campaign launch.

In the ad, Harris does not directly mention former President Donald Trump by name. Instead, she strategically references him through indirect visual cues and contrasts. The ad includes images of Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, to highlight the divide Harris aims to address. As Harris speaks about choosing a future free from “chaos, fear, and hate,” the screen displays headlines related to Trump’s criminal legal issues. These visuals are intended to underscore her stance on law and order, emphasizing her belief in a future where “no one is above the law.”

The concept of “freedom” is pivotal to Harris’s campaign narrative. She has adopted this theme both in her ad and public speeches, framing the upcoming election as a stark choice between freedom and disorder. During her initial campaign speech in Wisconsin, Harris reiterated this message, introducing the concept of the election as a choice between “freedom and chaos” while Beyoncé’s track played, enhancing the ad’s emotional impact.

The digital ad, which is being disseminated across various social media platforms, also addresses several key policy areas championed by Democrats. It highlights Harris’s commitment to tackling critical issues such as gun violence, protecting women’s reproductive rights, reducing child poverty, and expanding access to affordable health care. These issues are central to the Democratic platform and serve to position Harris as a proactive and forward-thinking candidate.

The ad opens with Harris posing a fundamental question: “In this election, we each face a question. What kind of country do we want to live in?” She emphasizes her dedication to fighting for the values and promises that define America, asserting that “when we fight, we win.” This call to action is intended to mobilize supporters and encourage them to join her campaign for the presidency.

The timing of Harris’s ad is notable, as it was released less than four days after her official campaign launch, which followed President Joe Biden’s surprising decision to withdraw from the race. With Biden’s endorsement and the support of a significant portion of his delegates, Harris is expected to secure the Democratic nomination. The formal nomination process, set to conclude in early August, is anticipated to solidify her position as the party’s candidate.

In her campaign speech, Harris leveraged her background as a former prosecutor, drawing a clear contrast between her record and Trump’s legal troubles. Having served as California Attorney General before her Senate tenure, Harris used her prosecutorial experience to highlight her ability to address and confront criminal behavior. The ad underscores Trump’s recent convictions and legal issues, including charges of falsifying business records and civil cases involving sexual abuse and fraud. Harris’s commentary, “I took on perpetrators of all kinds . . . so hear me when I say, I know Donald Trump’s type,” is aimed at reinforcing her credibility and readiness to address legal and ethical issues in the presidency.

In response to Harris’s campaign, Trump has engaged in personal attacks, referring to her as “Lyin’ Kamala” and criticizing her as a “radical, crazy person” and an “ultra-liberal.” These comments were made during his recent rally in North Carolina and are part of a broader critique of Harris’s role in addressing immigration, where he has labeled her as Biden’s “border czar” due to her involvement in managing migration from Central American countries.

Early polling data following Biden’s exit from the race shows a competitive landscape between Harris and Trump. Although Harris is currently trailing Trump by a narrow margin, her performance in recent polls has improved compared to Biden’s earlier standings. An online CNN/SSRS poll indicates that Harris is trailing Trump by just three points, reflecting a significant improvement from Biden’s previous performance in similar surveys conducted in April and June.

Harris’s campaign ad marks a crucial moment in her presidential bid, setting the stage for her candidacy by emphasizing themes of freedom and justice. As she moves forward with her campaign, the ad’s detailed portrayal of her policy priorities and personal convictions will play a key role in shaping voter perceptions and garnering support.