USA TODAY August 30, 2024 Harris' CNN interview cements shift to center on fracking, border. It's disappointing. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz's CNN interview on Thursday night was a chance to get their platform across to voters. Instead, she left progressives like me wanting more. Sara Pequeño

 USA TODAY 

August 30, 2024

Harris' CNN interview cements shift to center on fracking, border. It's disappointing.

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz's CNN interview on Thursday night was a chance to get their platform across to voters. Instead, she left progressives like me wanting more.

Sara Pequeño

Vice President Kamala Harris received rightful criticism in recent weeks for her failure to hold a press conference since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee. On Thursday night, she tried to remedy this with a prerecorded CNN interview.

Instead, she left me a little disappointed – particularly with her claim that she would appoint a Republican to her Cabinet if elected. I was excited about Harris up to this point, but that and other statements to reporter Dana Bash ‒ on issues from fracking to immigration ‒ are proof that she's shifting toward the middle.

“I believe it is important to build consensus, and it is important to find a common place of understanding of where we can actually solve problems," Harris said.

That's a great sentiment – but that's not why I liked her. I liked the 2020 presidential candidate who championed bold ideas.

There are only 10 weeks until the election: Every minute of airtime matters. Thursday night's interview was fine. Not everything was addressed – including, surprisingly, abortion – and Harris must do more media events to get her platform across.

Harris and Walz needed to make the case for lowering costs

Democratic presidential running mates Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are interviewed by CNN’s Dana Bash at Kim’s Cafe in Savannah, Ga., on Aug. 29, 2024.

One of the biggest issues for voters is the economy, and it's an issue where Harris is lagging slightly. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 43% of registered voters prefer former President Donald Trump's economic plan, compared with 40% who support Harris'.

In her first answer, Harris said she would implement an "opportunity economy" on Day One of her administration. She championed the child tax credit, affordable housing, dealing with price gouging and other ways to strengthen the middle class.

"When I look at the aspirations, the goals, the ambitions of the American people, I think that people are ready for a new way forward in a way that generations of Americans have been fueled by – by hope and by optimism," Harris said.

Her answer was robust and policy-focused, and hopefully resonated with folks who are experiencing anxiety over the economy.

Harris advocated for cease-fire, but pro-Palestinian voters didn't get much clarity

One of my biggest complaints of the Democratic National Convention was the lack of a Palestinian voice onstage. Since fighting began in Gaza after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed. I was glad to hear Harris acknowledge this suffering, even though she is standing firm in her commitment to Israel.

"Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed," Harris said. She emphasized the need for a deal but didn't stray too far from what President Joe Biden's administration has said.

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I know she is constrained by her current role as vice president, but I'd like to see her go further than the administration's stance on the Israel-Hamas war. It was particularly disheartening that she said she would continue to arm Israel if elected president.

Abortion is Democrats’ winningest issue. Harris didn't talk about it.

Abortion has been touted as the biggest issue this election cycle. A Gallup poll found that 85% of U.S. adults believe that abortion should be legal under all or certain circumstances.

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It's also one of the issues Harris is strongest on. During her DNC acceptance speech, she warned of the effect a Trump presidency would have on reproductive rights.

"Simply put, they are out of their minds," Harris said in Chicago last Thursday night.

Sadly, the issue didn't get any airtime a week later.

Gaza wasn't the only disappointing moment. Now Harris wants to build the wall?

CNN’s Dana Bash interviews Democratic presidential running mates Kamala Harris and Tim Walz at Kim’s Cafe in Savannah, Ga., on Aug. 29, 2024.

Harris has changed her position on a few key issues. The one that I find most frustrating is her more conservative stance on immigration. She has taken a new position on expanding a border wall, something that doesn't secure our border but does villainize Latin American migrants.

"We have laws that have to be followed and enforced that address and deal with people who cross our border illegally, and there should be consequence," Harris told Bash.

It's an answer I should have expected from a former prosecutor, but I was hoping to hear more grace for people who are fleeing dangerous situations.

She's also reversed her stance on fracking to extract oil and gas, which she once wanted to ban. It's an ironic shift for someone who says she cares about the impact of climate change.

A new USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll found that Harris is leading Trump 48%-43%. She has momentum right now; she needs to keep it going. I'm not sure shifting toward the middle is a winning strategy for maintaining that.

No matter what, both she and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz need to be doing more of these interviews and news conferences. I hope they do more individually.

Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno