Few people, especially politicians, can stand to be insulted. But when it comes to barbs fired by President Trump, Mayor Bill de Blasio cannot seem to get enough of them.

Treated as an afterthought among 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, Mr. de Blasio has embraced every affront from the president as an opportunity not just to fire back, but also to present himself as a capable antidote to Mr. Trump.

The latest example came this week, after the president cited viral videos that showed police officers getting water dumped on their heads, and suggested that the mayor was to blame for creating a lawless environment in New York City.

The president, Mr. de Blasio quickly replied on Thursday, “knows nothing about New York City at this point.” Later that night, in an interview with BuzzFeed’s Ben Smith, Mr. de Blasio challenged Mr. Trump to a debate.

“I challenge you, Donald Trump, to come to New York City, and I will debate you about what’s right for New York City and BuzzFeed can host it,” Mr. de Blasio said. “Because he doesn’t understand New York City, and when his presidency is over really soon, he will not be welcome back in New York City.”

Most observers see Mr. de Blasio’s change of heart as part of a recognition that he needs to find a way to draw attention to himself as one of the last candidates to enter the race, one of the lowest in the polls and one of the worst fund-raisers.

The only problem? It’s not working.

“Mr. de Blasio keeps on looking for something magical that will allow him to break through,” said Kenneth Sherrill, a professor emeritus of political science at Hunter College. “You keep on throwing bombs until one works or either your arm falls off. You have to admire his doggedness.”

From the start of his campaign, Mr. de Blasio has argued that he is the candidate most familiar with Mr. Trump, a fellow New Yorker, and that he has the grit to stand up to him. In his announcement video, Mr. de Blasio talked about how he had stood up to Mr. Trump in the past on issues that ranged from immigration to climate change.

“Donald Trump must be stopped. I’ve beaten him before and I will do it again,” Mr. de Blasio said in the video.

Mr. Trump has not refrained from going after Mr. de Blasio, either. On the day of Mr. de Blasio’s presidential announcement, Mr. Trump posted a video that appeared to be filmed aboard Air Force One, in which he called Mr. de Blasio the “worst” mayor in New York City history.

But Mr. de Blasio’s challenge of Mr. Trump is not a stunt, his campaign spokeswoman, Jacyln Rothenberg, insists.

“Yes he’s serious,” Ms. Rothenberg said. “He’s been watching him for years. He knows how to take him on.”

Mr. de Blasio met with Mr. Trump at Trump Tower shortly after Mr. Trump was elected president. The last time the two men spoke was after the 2017 Halloween truck attack on a Manhattan bike path that killed eight people, Ms. Rothenberg said.

Otherwise, Mr. de Blasio’s and Mr. Trump’s occasional social media volleys have been their only contact, even if the president is never far from the mayor’s public thoughts.

Mr. de Blasio has proudly criticized Mr. Trump in front of black churchgoers in South Carolina, and to farmers in rural Iowa. Mr. de Blasio even nicknamed Mr. Trump “ConDon” and hosted a raucous news conference at Trump Tower before announcing his candidacy.

Still, Mr. de Blasio only raised $1.1 million in his most recent fund-raising report, placing him in the bottom tier of candidates. And he has not reached one percent in any of the three national polls and four state polls that Quinnipiac University has conducted since Mr. de Blasio announced his candidacy May 16, said Mary Snow, a polling analyst for Quinnipiac University.

Mr. de Blasio has reached one percent in other polls, but even Mr. de Blasio’s generally well-regarded performance in the first Democratic debate did not move his poll numbers.

“That was a debate where Mayor de Blasio tried to stand out and make himself known in this crowded field, and it didn’t resonate in the polls,” Ms. Snow said. “The one thing we have to remember is how many candidates there are.”

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