Harris highlights middle-class support in first campaign interview

Vice President Kamala Harris declared Thursday that Americans are ready for "a new way forward" during her first major television interview as the Democratic presidential nominee, alongside running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. 

In the interview with CNN's Dana Bash, taped at Kim’s Café in Savannah, Georgia, Harris reaffirmed her commitment to supporting the middle class, saying, "First and foremost, one of my highest priorities is to do what we can to strengthen and support the middle class."

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Harris faced questions about shifts in her policy positions over the years, including reversals on fracking and decriminalizing illegal border crossings. She emphasized that her core values have remained consistent, stating, "The most important and significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is that my values have not changed." 

Harris also addressed former President Donald Trump’s recent comments questioning her racial identity, calling them "the same old, tired playbook," and shrugged off the criticism, reiterating her focus on the issues that matter most to voters.

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Harris also indicated her willingness to appoint a Republican to her Cabinet if elected, though she did not specify any names. 

The interview, aired Thursday night, gave Harris an opportunity to quell criticism over her limited media availability and to define her campaign ahead of her upcoming debate with Trump on September 10.

Following the interview, Harris and Walz continued their two-day bus tour through Southeast Georgia, with Harris making additional stops in Savannah. Walz left to attend other political events out of state. This tour comes just weeks after Harris was named the Democratic nominee following Joe Biden's exit from the race.

As the campaign heats up, with only 70 days until the election and mail ballots set to be distributed in two weeks, Harris is also preparing for a Labor Day campaign event with Biden in Detroit and Pittsburgh. 

Republicans have criticized Harris for avoiding unscripted media appearances, a critique her campaign is aiming to address with more public engagements like this CNN interview. Harris’s appearance on CNN serves as a strategic move to build momentum and solidify her position as the Democratic candidate in the upcoming election.