Vice President Kamala Harris is front and center in the political spotlight, facing tough questions on everything from her economic plans to foreign policy. As the Democratic nominee in the 2024 presidential race, Harris is making a strong push in the final sprint toward Election Day, engaging with the media in a series of high-profile interviews and appearances that are generating a lot of buzz.
The most notable of these was a no-holds-barred interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes where she was pressed on critical issues like the economy, immigration, and her stance on international relations.
A Heated 60 Minutes Interview: Economic Plans Under the Microscope
In her wide-ranging interview on 60 Minutes, Harris was asked how she plans to fund her ambitious economic proposals, which include tax breaks for new parents, massive investments in housing, and down-payment assistance for first-time homebuyers.
The discussion focused on whether these plans are realistic, with CBS correspondent Bill Whitaker pushing back on Harris’s claims.
Harris emphasized her commitment to raising taxes on the ultra-wealthy and large corporations as the key to funding these initiatives. “We need to make sure that the billionaires and major corporations pay their fair share,” Harris said, while dodging questions about whether Congress would support such measures.
An independent analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget raised concerns about Harris’s economic plans, suggesting they could significantly increase the federal deficit, with estimates of up to $8.1 trillion added to the national debt by 2035.
Harris brushed aside these concerns, insisting, “I cannot afford to be myopic in terms of how I think about strengthening America’s economy.”
This exchange highlights the tightrope Harris is walking between promoting bold policy changes while defending them against critiques of feasibility.
Harris on Border Security: Congress Needs to Act
Immigration has been a hot-button issue throughout the Biden-Harris administration, and Harris didn’t shy away from addressing it during her 60 Minutes interview. She defended the administration’s handling of the border crisis, calling migration a “longstanding problem” and insisting that Congress holds the key to resolving it.
“We need Congress to act to actually fix the problem,” Harris said, emphasizing that the administration has been offering solutions since day one.
When Whitaker pressed her on whether they should have cracked down on immigration sooner, Harris pivoted to blaming Republicans for blocking bipartisan immigration reform efforts.
The vice president also pointed to recent actions that have led to a significant drop in crossings at the southern border, framing these results as a testament to the administration’s persistence on the issue.
The Foreign Policy Front: No Meeting with Putin Without Ukraine
Harris was equally firm when it came to discussing Russia and the ongoing war in Ukraine. She made it clear that there would be no bilateral meeting between her and Russian President Vladimir Putin unless Ukraine is part of the conversation. “Ukraine must have a say in the future of Ukraine,” Harris stated, reiterating her stance that Ukraine’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.
Harris also refrained from taking a position on whether Ukraine should be admitted into NATO, saying, “We’ll deal with that when and if it arrives at that point.”
She remained focused on the immediate issue: supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s aggression.
Perhaps one of the most memorable moments in the interview was when Harris speculated that if Trump were president, “Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now.” She framed Trump’s claims of ending the war in Ukraine on day one as nothing more than a veiled offer of surrender.
Harris and Liz Cheney: A Surprising Alliance
One of the more unexpected developments in Harris’s campaign has been her partnership with former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney.
The two appeared together in Ripon, Wisconsin—a symbolic location as the birthplace of the Republican Party—to underscore the bipartisan nature of Harris’s candidacy. Cheney, once ousted by her party for her role in the January 6th investigation, has become an outspoken critic of Trump and a surprising ally to Harris.
In a rare moment of levity, Kamala Harris and Cheney shared a laugh when asked about their alliance. “That’d be great,” Harris said with a smile when asked if she ever imagined campaigning alongside Cheney. Cheney responded with a playful quip, “She’s really diplomatic.”
This unlikely partnership underscores Harris’s efforts to broaden her appeal to independent and moderate Republican voters, a crucial demographic in the upcoming election.
Trump’s Absence Looms Large
While Kamala Harris was in the spotlight, the shadow of former President Donald Trump hung over the interview. Trump abruptly canceled his scheduled 60 Minutes sit-down, offering a series of shifting explanations. Some interpret his decision as reluctance to face tough questions.
In contrast, Kamala Harris used the opportunity to call out Trump’s avoidance of hard interviews, saying, “If he’s not going to give your viewers a meaningful conversation, then watch his rallies. What you will not hear is anything about you, the listener.”
Trump’s preference for more friendly interview environments, like those on Fox News, continues to draw criticism from his opponents, who argue that he is avoiding real scrutiny.
Harris’s Media Blitz: Reaching Out to Voters Across Platforms
Kamala Harris’s appearance on 60 Minutes was just one piece of a broader media push designed to reach a variety of audiences. In addition to her CBS interview, she also appeared on the popular podcast Call Her Daddy, where she discussed issues ranging from women’s rights to the economy.
This was followed by appearances on ABC’s The View, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and an upcoming Univision town hall.
The strategy is clear: Harris is trying to appeal to different voter demographics by meeting them where they are. Whether it’s through traditional news platforms like 60 Minutes or more casual, conversational shows like Call Her Daddy, Kamala Harris is leaving no stone unturned as she seeks to secure votes in the final stretch of the campaign.
Walz’s Role and Missteps
Harris’s running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, has also been an active part of the campaign’s media strategy, but his appearances have come with some controversy. Walz has been forced to walk back several statements from his past, including false claims about his military service and where he was during the Tiananmen Square massacre.
In the 60 Minutes interview, Walz admitted that Harris had advised him to be more careful with his words. “She said, ‘Tim, you know, you need to be a little more careful on how you say things,’” Walz recalled.
However, Walz drew a clear line between his past misstatements and Trump’s repeated falsehoods, calling the former president a “pathological liar” and insisting that voters can trust him to tell the truth moving forward.
Harris’s Gun Ownership: A Lighthearted Moment
One of the more unexpected topics to come up in the interview was Harris’s gun ownership. The vice president confirmed that she owns a Glock, and when asked if she’s ever fired it, she responded with a laugh, “Of course I have. At a shooting range.”
This moment of levity stood in stark contrast to the serious tone of much of the interview, offering voters a glimpse of Harris’s personal side amid the more weighty discussions.
The Final Sprint to Election Day
As Election Day approaches, Harris is leaning into a robust media strategy that allows her to address her critics, outline her policy proposals, and connect with voters on a personal level. The 60 Minutes interview, while at times contentious, gave her a platform to defend her record and lay out her vision for the future.
In a race as close as this one, every media appearance matters. With no more debates scheduled between Harris and Trump, these interviews may be her best chance to sway undecided voters and secure a win in the 2024 presidential election.
It remains to be seen whether this media blitz will pay off, but one thing is clear: Kamala Harris is giving everything she’s got to make her case to the American people.
