In a contentious interview on Fox News, Kamala Harris, the US Vice-President, firmly stated that her presidency would diverge from Joe Biden’s and not merely extend it. In her initial televised interview on the conservative news outlet, she rigorously faced off against interviewer Bret Baier on several issues, including the Biden administration’s approach to immigration and her representation of change in contrast to the Democratic president.
She emphasised, “Let’s be perfectly clear, my time in office will not be a carry-over of Joe Biden’s tenure. Like every incoming president, I’ll bring my personal life and work experiences, as well as innovative and fresh ideas.” The Vice-President added, “I am the face of a new generation of leadership.”
Notably, this shift marks a deviation for Harris, the Democratic party’s 59-year-old nominee, who had found it challenging to illustrate how she would deviate from Biden since succeeding him as the presidential hopeful last summer.
‘My role symbolises a new era of leadership.’ Harris’s Fox News interview underscores her commitment to differentiation from Biden.
Within the next three weeks, Kamala Harris must unveil her political standpoints to the citizens of the United States.
In one impassioned rebuttal, she used Trump’s recent threats to rally the military against the ‘internal enemy’ as proof of his temperamental unsuitability for another term.
“The head of state in the US should be capable of managing criticism without threatening imprisonment for those who criticise. This is the crucial point at stake,” she added.
Moreover, the interview is particularly notable as it was aired on a news outlet owned by Rupert Murdoch, typically perceived as antagonistic towards Democrats. Harris has begun a media campaign due to top-party operative’s concerns that her campaign presentations have been excessively programmed.
Harris is also working to tilt a head-to-head race with Trump in her favour by reaching out to independent voters and Republicans disillusioned with the former president. Throughout the interview, she persistently attempted to change the topic to discuss Trump, who she labelled as ‘unfit’ for the presidency.
Harris openly defended Biden’s administration against the surge in immigration in recent years. She criticised Mr Trump for blocking a bipartisan bill in Congress that sought to provide more resources to border agents and decrease migrant crossings from Mexico into US territory. She had also insisted on a strong stance regarding unlawful immigration, an issue that has given Mr Trump a favourable position amongst voters, as he continuously lambasts the Biden administration for the recent spike in crossings from Mexico.
“I am against the decriminalisation of border crossings, and I have held this stance as vice-president,” stated Ms Harris. “I will continue to uphold this belief as president.” Mr Trump’s team, however, depicted Ms Harris’s interview as a “sheer, unrestrained catastrophe,” criticising her responses on immigration and accusing her of shirking responsibility in hiding Biden’s cognitive deterioration.
Political race surveys for the White House portray Ms Harris holding a slim lead over Mr Trump nationally, but they are evenly matched in the swing states that will determine the November 5th election.
With an aim to regain her momentum in the race, Ms Harris partook in an interview on Tuesday with Charlamagne tha God, a radio host whose show is popular amongst young African Americans. Her campaign team is also contemplating an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, which boasts an extensive audience, primarily men.
Nevertheless, her Wednesday interview with a conservative media stronghold is viewed as the most lucid indication that Ms Harris is striving to sway independents and discontented Republicans during the final stretch of her campaign.
After her appearance in Bucks County, Pennsylvania—a crucial part of the battleground state, she made a straightforward appeal to moderates who have become fatigued by Mr Trump. On the campaign trail, Ms Harris committed to being a president who “will work actively to unify us” and is “pragmatic, with a good sense of judgement.” — Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2024.