With Democrats fighting among themselves about whether President Joe Biden should continue to be the party's presidential nominee, the House Republicans' campaign arm is turning its attention to Vice President Kamala Harris.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is releasing a new digital ad that focuses on Harris' support of Biden and her failed attempts as border czar.
"House Republicans are sharpening our knives if extreme House Democrats dump Joe Biden — or we will remind voters Kamala is next in line if they don't," NRCC National Press Secretary Will Reinert said in a statement that accompanied the ad posted on X Wednesday morning.
Many Democrats have called for the 81-year-old Biden to step aside following his debate performance against former President Donald Trump on Thursday night.
Critics say Biden's cognitive issues were on full display during the debate and show the president is unfit for another four-year term.
Harris has been mentioned as a likely replacement should Biden take himself out of the presidential race. The Democratic National Convention will be held Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.
The NRCC digital ad used Harris' voice in calling Biden "a fighter, a leader with skill, vision, determination and compassion," while showing the president stumbling on the stairs to Air Force One, falling on a bicycle, being given instructions by first lady Jill Biden, and sitting with his eyes closed.
The ad refers to Harris as "Biden's enabler in chief and architect of the border crisis" while showing large groups of migrants. The vice president then says: "The border is secure."
The NRCC ad also displays "House Democrats are complicit" before lawmakers including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., are seen and heard praising Harris.
"She's very politically astute," Pelosi says in the ad.
"I look to her as a successor," Clyburn says.
The NRCC ad then shows Harris uttering a couple of vague phrases and laughing, before she's seen standing behind Biden during a State of the Union and clapping while House Democrats chant, "Four more years!"
The ad ends with: "This November: Vote Republican. Stop Kamala."
Some elected Democrats loyal to Biden raised fresh questions Tuesday about his 2024 reelection bid, with one calling for him to step aside, a shift after many defended him in the wake of last week's shaky debate performance.
There are 25 Democrat members of the House of Representatives preparing to call for Biden to step aside, according to one House Democrat aide.