Our most recent book is Divided We Stand: The 2020 Elections and American Politics. Less than 48 hours after Biden's withdrawal, Kamala Harris became the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee.
So far, the debates have severely disadvantaged Trump. The first one knocked Biden out of the race, leading to the nomination of a far stronger opponent. The second one showcased her strengths and his weaknesses. He can still win, but it is not the race that he wanted.
It was clear in the debate that Vice President Kamala Harris’s goal was to get under Donald Trump’s skin. But less obvious were the ways in which she was trying to appeal to independent and disenchanted Republican voters.
“I pledge to you to be a president for all Americans,” Harris said less than five minutes into the debate. Later on, she noted she had the endorsement of 200 Republicans, which includes former vice president Dick Cheney and his daughter, former congresswoman Liz Cheney.
It’s an appeal-to-the-middle approach that emerged during the Democratic convention when Republicans spoke in support of Harris on the convention floor and she appealed to national security and democracy-minded conservatives, and it mirrors her campaign’s efforts to get independent and centrist voters on board.
Harris’s debate strategy wasn’t missed by some of the most prominent never-Trumpers.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who voted twice to impeach Trump and said he will not vote for Trump in November, took notice. He praised Harris’s debate performance, telling reporters that people saw an “intelligent, capable person.”
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She walked back more liberal stances taken during the Democratic presidential primary in 2020, like her opposition to fracking and support for single-payer health care.
When Trump accused her of wanting to confiscate all guns, she said, “We’re not taking anybody’s guns away, so stop with the continuous lying about this stuff,” and added that she and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, “are both gun owners.”
While the remark caught attention online, it wasn’t actually news. Harris had spoken about being a gun owner during her last campaign for president. “I am a gun owner, and I own a gun for probably the reason a lot of people do — for personal safety,” Harris told reporters after a campaign event in 2019.
At the time, Harris pointed to her career as a prosecutor by way of explanation. It’s not unusual for people who work in law enforcement, from parole officers to police to chief law enforcement officers, to own a gun out of concern that someone they’ve encountered in the legal system might try to exact revenge — as has happened before. The surprise is almost certainly for another reason altogether: Harris is a multiracial woman from a liberal state who has called for banning assault weapons and passing universal background checks.
And let me say, I know there are people of various political views watching tonight, and I want you to know I promise to be a president for all Americans. [Applause.] You can always trust me to put country above party and self; to hold sacred America's fundamental principles, from the rule of law to free and fair elections to the peaceful transfer of power. [Applause.]
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And I'll tell you, this is personal for me. The middle class is where I come from. My mother kept a strict budget. We lived within our means, yet we wanted for little. And she expected us to make the most of the opportunities that were available to us and to be grateful for them, because, as she taught us, opportunity is not available to everyone.
That's why we will create what I call an opportunity economy — an opportunity economy where everyone has the chance to compete and a chance to succeed — [applause] — whether you live in a rural area, small town, or big city.
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We will provide access to capital for small-business owners and entrepreneurs and founders.
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And let me be clear. And let me be clear. After decades in law enforcement, I know the importance of safety and security, especially at our border.
Last year, Joe and I brought together Democrats and conservative Republicans to write the strongest border bill in decades. The Border Patrol endorsed it. But Donald Trump believes a border deal would hurt his campaign, so he ordered his allies in Congress to kill the deal.
The Vice President: Well, I refuse to play politics with our security, and here is my pledge to you. As president, I will bring back the bipartisan border security bill that he killed, and I will sign it into law. [Applause.]
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As vice president, I have confronted threats to our security, negotiated with foreign leaders, strengthened our alliances, and engaged with our brave troops overseas. [Applause.]
As commander in chief, I will ensure America always has the strongest, most lethal fighting force in the world. [Applause.] And I will fulfill our sacred obligation to care for our troops and their families, and I will always honor and never disparage their service and their sacrifice. [Applause.]
Audience: USA! USA! USA!
The Vice President: I will make sure that we lead the world into the future on space and artificial intelligence; that America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century; and that we strengthen, not abdicate, our global leadership.
Trump, on the other hand, threatened to abandon NATO. He encouraged Putin to invade our allies. Said Russia could, quote, "do whatever the hell they want."
Audience: Booo --
The Vice President: Five days before Russia attacked Ukraine, I met with President Zelenskyy to warn him about Russia's plan to invade. I helped mobilize a global response — over 50 countries — to defend against Putin's aggression. [Applause.] And as president, I will stand strong with Ukraine and our NATO Allies. [Applause.]
