Kamala Harris’ Strategy to Face Trump and Win the Presidency
Kamala Harris outlined her plan to tackle Donald Trump and win the presidency during her first major interview as the Democratic nominee. Facing intense scrutiny, she skillfully avoided missteps that could have derailed her momentum. On Thursday, she went into the interview under pressure, with Trump and his allies predicting she would crumble under the weight of criticism over her policy changes and accusations of dodging the press.
Navigated the interview.
Harris confidently navigated the interview. Her focus was on broad, aspirational topics rather than diving into detailed policy blueprints. Harris avoided addressing her reversals on issues like immigration and energy, presenting herself as a more disciplined and prepared political figure than she appeared during her brief 2020 presidential run. She skillfully deflected tough questions by pivoting to safer talking points, an improvement from her performance in a damaging 2021 NBC interview. She also avoided major mistakes that could have derailed her campaign ahead of the upcoming debate with Trump on September 10 in Philadelphia.
Democratic National Convention,
Just a week after her keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, Harris doubled down on her message that it was time to “turn the page” on Trump’s divisiveness. She refused to be baited by questions about her racial identity, dismissing the issue with a confident, “Same old tired playbook. Next question, please.” This response showed her determination to keep the campaign focused on key issues rather than allowing it to be overshadowed by discussions of race.
A Clear Contrast with Trump
Harris’ calm and pragmatic approach starkly contrasted with Trump’s bombast and self-centeredness. In the interview, she aimed to appeal to voters dissatisfied with President Joe Biden while offering a stable alternative for those fed up with Trump. Harris also silenced claims from Trump and conservative media that she was relying on her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, to answer questions. Throughout the interview, she dominated the conversation, clearly establishing herself as the senior figure in the discussion.
character and behavior.
She used the opportunity to build her core argument against Trump, focusing on his character and behavior. Harris argued that Trump had spent the last decade dividing the country, undermining the core values that unite Americans. “Unfortunately, in the last decade, we have had in the former president someone who has been pushing an agenda that is all about diminishing who we are as Americans,” Harris told Dana Bash.
Later, at a rally in Savannah, Georgia, Harris warned her audience about the Supreme Court’s ruling granting Trump immunity from criminal prosecution, suggesting that Trump would seek revenge on his detractors if re-elected. “Understand: This is not 2016 or 2020. This is different.”
Harris’ Presidential Agenda
While Harris clearly laid out her opposition to Trump, she remained elusive on specific policy details. She focused on big-picture goals such as lowering costs, making housing more affordable, reducing drug prices, and creating jobs. However, she did not provide a clear roadmap for how she would navigate the political challenges of implementing these policies as president, nor did she explain how she would fund them. Her tendency to speak in broad terms was highlighted when she was unable to give a specific answer to what she would do on her first day in office.
Accomplished key goals
She brushed off questions about why she hadn’t accomplished key goals in her economic plan during her time as vice president, giving an opening to the Trump campaign. While she acknowledged the burden of high grocery prices, she struggled to fully explain why they had soared under the Biden-Harris administration. Instead, Harris pointed to Trump’s mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic as the cause of the economic crisis they inherited, emphasizing the Biden administration’s job creation record and inflation reduction efforts.
Finessing Policy Shifts
Harris adeptly handled some of the tougher questions, though her pragmatism occasionally blurred into vagueness. When asked about her reversal on fracking—an important issue in swing state Pennsylvania—she maintained that she hadn’t changed her position, insisting that a thriving clean energy economy could be built without banning fracking. While environmentalists might argue that fracking is incompatible with a green economy, Harris stuck to her claim that her values hadn’t changed, attempting to balance conflicting stances.
Israel-Hamas conflict,
She also took a cautious approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict, condemning the deaths of Palestinian civilians while affirming Israel’s right to defend itself. Harris acknowledged the challenges of finding a peaceful resolution and stressed the need for a deal to end the violence, though the situation remained unresolved. Her stance highlighted the complexity of balancing U.S. diplomacy in a volatile conflict.
President Biden’s fitness
Harris also fielded questions about President Biden’s fitness for another term, defending him despite his perceived missteps. She praised Biden’s intelligence, commitment, and judgment, demonstrating loyalty to the president while positioning herself as a capable successor. Harris deftly turned the conversation back to Trump, emphasizing her broader message about leadership.
Political dexterity,
“I’m talking about a generation that started about a decade ago, where there is this warped idea that the strength of a leader is based on who you beat down, instead of what I believe most people think—that real strength comes from lifting people up.”
In her interview, Harris showed political dexterity, uniting her party around her candidacy and diminishing Trump’s lead in the polls. By shifting the focus to her critique of Trump’s divisive leadership style, she reinforced the core reason for her campaign for the White House.
“That’s what’s at stake as much as anything else we can talk about in this election,” she concluded.