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New Delhi
The US Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on Fox News with anchor Bret Baier on Wednesday (Oct 16) for one of her most challenging interviews to date. The interview quickly turned into a debate, with Baier pressing Harris on key issues like the border, President Biden’s fitness, and Donald Trump’s threat to democracy.
It had hints at what she plans to do if she wins the race for White House in the November 5 election. Here's what a Kamala Harris presidency would look like, based on her answers to Fox News.
Breaking with Biden, but not by much
Harris offered a rare distinction when asked how her presidency would differ from Joe Biden’s. “My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” she said, highlighting her focus on issues like housing and small businesses.
Though a clear attempt to distance herself slightly from the president, Harris’ comments were more rhetorical than substantive.
However, Biden himself recently hinted that he’s comfortable with Harris carving out her own path, saying, “She’s been loyal so far, but she’ll cut her own path.”
When Baier probed further, questioning Biden’s mental faculties, Harris stood firm, stating, “Mr. Biden is more than capable of leading the nation,” while calling Trump “unfit,” “unstable,” and “dangerous.”
Immigration and border security: Baier pushes Trump talking points
Throughout the interview, Baier echoed several of Trump’s key arguments. Nearly half of the 26-minute discussion centred on immigration and border security, areas where Harris has struggled to gain favour with undecided voters.
Baier highlighted stories of women who were victims of undocumented immigrants, a frequent Trump talking point.
At one point, Baier even played a clip from a Trump rally where the former president defended his controversial “enemy from within” comments.
In response, Harris pushed back, redirecting the conversation to Trump’s role in sabotaging bipartisan immigration reform.
Watch | US Elections 2024: Donald Trump Takes Betting Odds Lead Against Kamala Harris
Appealing to women voters
One of Harris’ key objectives in the interview was to connect with Republican women, a demographic her campaign hopes to sway.
However, Baier avoided discussing issues like abortion rights—topics that Harris’s campaign sees as crucial to winning over female voters. Instead, the conversation remained focused on border security.
When Baier pressed her on whether the Biden administration owed apologies to families of women killed by undocumented immigrants, Harris expressed condolences but pivoted to emphasise her prosecutorial record and the failures of Trump’s immigration policies.
“Let’s talk about what is happening right now with an individual who does not want to participate in solutions,” she said of Trump.
Repeated interruptions highlight gender dynamics
Harris faced frequent interruptions from Baier, drawing comparisons to how Matt Lauer treated Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election.
At one point, Harris had to assert, “You have to let me finish, please.” Despite the interruptions, Harris remained composed, a dynamic that may have resonated with the female viewers her campaign is targeting.
As the interview progressed, Baier acknowledged the interruptions, stating, “We’re talking over each other,” and apologised before the segment ended.
Limited success in reaching Republicans
Despite her efforts to appeal to Republicans, the interview underscored the difficulties Harris faces in winning over a largely sceptical conservative audience. Though she repeatedly pointed to former Trump administration officials who support her, the majority of Fox News viewers remain aligned with Trump.
Even some progressives are concerned about Harris’s attempts to reach across the aisle, worried that her focus on courting moderates could dampen enthusiasm among younger, liberal voters.
Also read | Is Kamala Harris losing Arab-American support in coming US elections?
Flipping Trump’s transgender attack
When Baier played a Trump campaign ad accusing Harris of supporting taxpayer-funded gender transition care for prisoners, Harris was quick to turn the tables.
“I will follow the law, and it’s a law that Donald Trump actually followed,” she said, pointing out that Trump’s administration provided similar treatments to inmates.
With a smile, she added, “That ad is a little bit of like throwing stones when you’re living in a glass house.”