Trump Treads Lightly Around Kamala Harris - For Now

In an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, President Trump identified California Senator Kamala Harris as his toughest opponent so far in the 2020 presidential race.
"I would say, the best opening so far would be Kamala Harris," Trump said, "I would say, in terms of the opening act, I would say, would be her."

Trump did not make negative comments about Harris, let alone give her a nickname. Of course, this could change. But it brings me back to what I wrote on January 21st, the day Harris announced she would be running:

Among the current field of declared Democrats, I think Harris would prove to be the toughest challenge for President Trump. Like it or not, we are in an era of identity politics. If Alabama's Doug Jones could mobilize a record number of African-American female voters against Roy Moore in the Alabama special Senate election in December 2017 just imagine the impact of Harris' biracial identity and gender could have with the same bloc of voters nationwide. Given Trump's propensity for racially charged comments it is not difficult to see a scenario in which he uses racist language against Harris and thereby helps her cause. Trump might be wise to tread lightly around her.

For now, Trump is exercising wisdom. It is going to be much harder for him to launch a Twitter attack against Harris than against Elizabeth Warren. After all, Trump managed to goad her into undergoing a DNA test to prove she had Native American heritage and led to her issuing an apology to the Cherokee Nation yesterday. Last month, Trump mocked Warren for drinking a beer in an Instagram video she posted. It is only a matter of time before Trump mocks Warren again. 

Trump is going to have to be much more circumspect with Harris. Although this is Trump we are talking about. Since Trump made hay with Obama's birth certificate what's to say he wouldn't peddle Jacob Wohl's false claim that Harris isn't an American citizen? The fact that Harris was born in Oakland is immaterial and that she attended high school in Montreal is immaterial. All Trump has to do is claim that he's heard things. But given her background as a DA, Harris strikes me as someone you don't want as an enemy. She might prove to be even better counterpuncher than Trump. Can you say Nancy Pelosi? If Harris knocks Trump on his as, it will be the second time a Democratic woman from the Bay Area has got the better of the President.