Kamala Harris Vows to Strengthen Middle Class in Campaign

US Vice President Kamala Harris declares her intention to bolster and support the middle class as she outlines her presidential campaign plans.

Published September 01, 2024 - 00:09am

4 minutes read
United States
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In an engaging conversation with Dana Bash on CNN, Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States and Democratic presidential candidate, emphasized the readiness of American voters for a 'new path forward.' Accompanied by her running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, Harris used the interview as an opportunity to address the American public and lay out her vision for the future.

Harris underscored that one of her principal priorities is to strengthen and support the middle class. 'When I see the aspirations, the goals, the ambitions of the American people, I believe that people are ready for a new path forward,' she stated.

The interview, conducted at Kim's Cafe in Savannah, Georgia—a restaurant owned by Black businesspersons—provided Harris a platform to confront allegations of her avoiding uncontrolled environments, while also allowing her to define her campaign and test her political resolve before her upcoming debate against former President Donald Trump.

A significant aspect of Harris' interview was her clear stance on pivotal issues, such as hydraulic fracturing and border security. Despite her radical policy shifts over the years, she firmly stated, 'The most important and significant aspect of my policymaking decisions is that my values have not changed.'

In her first extensive interview as a presidential candidate, Harris also responded to Trump's questioning of her racial identity by dismissing it as a 'same old, tired manual.' Harris, who has African-American and South Asian heritage, made headlines when she declared that she would consider appointing a Republican to her cabinet, although she did not name any specific individuals.

This strategic implication of bipartisanship was echoed during a French-language interview wherein Harris lamented Trump's divisive agenda and proudly highlighted Biden's achievements in contrast to the previous administration. She asserted, 'The economy was collapsing before Joe Biden entered the White House,' and placed the burden of the migrant crisis on Trump's shoulders.

The race towards the 2024 election became more interesting with Harris' entry, particularly as she replaces Joe Biden, who withdrew his candidacy. According to a Reuters/Ipsos survey, Harris has witnessed a rise in her support, holding 45% of the vote compared to Trump's 41%, revealing incremental but significant progress.

Harris' influence may particularly resonate among female and Hispanic voters, with 49% of women showing favorability towards her against Trump's 36%. These statistics were parallelly validated by several state-level polls which cast Harris ahead in key swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—though keeping the competition fierce in candid battlegrounds like Florida and North Carolina.

Further strengthening her candidacy, Harris emphasized consistent support for climate policies and border security. Her assurances on climate action were reflective of the Biden administration's multi-pronged approach towards emission caps under the Inflation Reduction Act. Contrarily, her stern position on border laws reaffirms a continuation of a hard stance on illegal crossings and immigration policies from her tenure as Attorney General.

The gravitas of Harris' personal journey from San Francisco District Attorneyship to California Attorney General, to Vice Presidency strikes a chord with many Americans. 'I am the empirical evidence of the American promise,' she remarked, bolstering a sentiment echoed similarly in multiple interviews.

However, the campaign's trajectory still holds uncertainty. Robert M. Howard, a political science professor, succinctly notes, 'The election will essentially be a tussle around the four to five percentage points margin, barring any major shifts.' Such sentiments are imbued deeply with the notion that regardless of poll leads, the roadmap to the White House will be defined by strategic captures in the Electoral College.

In summary, Kamala Harris' debut marks a pivotal moment in the 2024 presidential race. Her focus on the middle class, environmental policies, and bipartisan outreach illustrates a determined effort to pivot American politics towards a unified future—a path intricately detailed in her resonant addresses across different platforms.

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