New York: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris appears to be distancing herself from President Biden’s record while stepping away from the progressive policies she once championed. This shift is seen as part of her effort to take over the Democratic mantle from Biden, with a campaign now emphasising style over substance.
Democratic campaign operatives warn that this approach could alienate voters by making Harris appear opportunistic. “It’s a marketing strategy that is TV-esque,” said a senior Democratic aide, as reported by the New York Post. “With such a short timeline now, policy matters less than personality. She’s going to almost exclusively look at a voter like a consumer — and sell, sell, sell!”
Another Democratic operative noted that Harris is distancing herself from Biden’s economic policies due to his poor polling numbers. She is reportedly ready to discard any administration talking points that lack strong public support. At 59, Harris is also moving away from several progressive positions she held during her 2020 presidential bid, including Medicare for All, banning fracking, and legalising undocumented immigration.
Critics within her own party have previously criticised Harris for her shifting stances. The Biden campaign mocked her Medicare position as inconsistent, while aides for Democratic socialist Senator Bernie Sanders criticised her policies as strategically crafted for favourable poll numbers.
Harris is now focusing on moderate credentials, addressing inflation and the high cost of goods, while aligning with Trump’s pledge to avoid taxing tips for service workers in key battleground states like Nevada. “As far as Harris distancing from Biden, she was going to do that,” said one campaign operative, indicating her intent to redefine the 2024 race, according to the New York Post.
Harris has faced criticism for her avoidance of major media interviews following Biden’s departure. A senior Democratic aide suggested this strategy gives her time to refine her narrative. Harris’s advisors told Axios she is unafraid to embrace policy reversals, comparing her approach to New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent policy shift on congestion pricing.
Republicans have quickly criticised Harris’s campaign strategy. Rockland County Republican Representative Mike Lawler labelled her a “fraud,” and JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, dismissed her revamped campaign as “fake,” questioning the authenticity of her newly promoted image and messaging.
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