politics

In her first major television interview since launching her presidential campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris defended her recent policy shifts away from some of her earlier liberal positions. She made it clear that while her policy stances have evolved, her core values remain unchanged, emphasizing that her current approach is focused on building consensus.

Joined by her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris addressed questions regarding her reversals on banning fracking and decriminalizing illegal border crossings—stances she had previously supported during her earlier presidential run. Harris confirmed that she no longer advocates for banning fracking, highlighting its importance to the economy of Pennsylvania, a critical swing state. She also stressed that there should be consequences for those who cross the U.S. border without legal permission.

“The most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is that my values have not changed,” Harris stated. She further emphasized the importance of consensus-building, noting, “It is important to find a common place of understanding where we can actually solve the problem.”

This interview with CNN’s Dana Bash comes at a time when voters are still acclimating to the new Democratic ticket, following President Joe Biden’s announcement just five weeks ago that he would not seek reelection. The interview was largely centered on policy as Harris sought to portray herself as having adopted more centrist positions on contentious issues, while Walz defended his record against accusations of past misstatements.

Harris had not participated in an in-depth interview since becoming the Democratic nominee, although she had previously given several interviews as Biden’s running mate. Reflecting on her time serving alongside Biden, she described it as “one of the greatest honors of my career.” Harris recounted the moment Biden informed her of his decision to step down and endorse her, sharing, “He told me what he had decided to do and... I asked him, ‘Are you sure?’ and he said, ‘Yes,’ and that’s how I learned about it.”

She clarified that she did not seek Biden’s endorsement, stating, “He was very clear that he was going to endorse me.”

Harris defended the administration's handling of immigration and border security, highlighting her role in addressing the "root causes" of migration from other countries. She stressed that U.S. laws on illegal border crossings must be upheld and enforced, with appropriate consequences for violations.

On the topic of Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza following Hamas’ October 7th attack, Harris expressed her unwavering commitment to Israel's right to defend itself, while also voicing concern over the high number of civilian casualties resulting from the Israeli military response.

Harris also addressed recent comments by former President Donald Trump, who questioned her racial identity by falsely suggesting that she altered her self-presentation for political gain. Harris, who is of Black and South Asian descent, dismissed Trump’s comments as part of the “same old, tired playbook.”

“Next question, please,” she said in response to Trump’s comments.

Harris and Trump are scheduled to debate on September 10, marking their first direct confrontation. Although they have been in the same room previously when Harris attended Trump’s joint addresses to Congress as a senator, this debate will be their first official meeting as opponents. Following the interview, Trump took to social media to express his eagerness to debate Harris, calling her a fraud and criticizing her for changing her long-held positions. He further accused her of aligning with Marxist ideologies, claiming that America would never accept such a candidate as president.

During the early part of the interview, Walz sat quietly, nodding in agreement with Harris’s main points. Later, he was questioned about past misstatements, starting with his description of his 24 years of service in the National Guard. In a 2018 video clip distributed by the Harris-Walz campaign, Walz spoke against gun violence, stating, “We can make sure that those weapons of war, that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at.” Critics interpreted this comment as misleading, suggesting that Walz had portrayed himself as a combat veteran. Walz clarified that he misspoke in the wake of a school shooting, acknowledging, “My grammar’s not always correct.”

When asked about previous statements that seemed to imply that he and his wife had used in-vitro fertilization to conceive their children, when they had actually used a different fertility treatment, Walz responded that he believed most Americans understood his intent. He then redirected the discussion toward Republican opposition to abortion rights.

Polling data from Gallup shows a surge in enthusiasm among Democratic voters ahead of the upcoming November elections, with about 80% of Democrats now reporting increased enthusiasm, up from 55% in March. This enthusiasm gap gives Democrats a notable advantage, as Republican voter enthusiasm has grown at a slower pace, with roughly two-thirds of Republicans indicating they are more eager than usual to vote.

Speaking to a packed arena at a rally in Savannah, Harris positioned her campaign as the underdog and urged her supporters to remain dedicated in their efforts to secure a win in November. She highlighted several key Democratic concerns, including fears that Trump might further restrict women’s rights, particularly in light of his appointment of three conservative judges to the U.S. Supreme Court who played a role in overturning Roe v. Wade. Harris also warned of the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act and highlighted the expanded powers recently granted to presidents by the Supreme Court, cautioning, “Imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails.”

The rally in Savannah marked the conclusion of a two-day bus tour through southeastern Georgia. Harris’s campaign efforts will continue with a Labor Day blitz alongside Biden in Detroit and Pittsburgh, as the election draws nearer. With the first mail-in ballots set to be sent to voters in just two weeks, Harris is intensifying her campaign outreach in the final stretch before Election Day.