 "'We have teams ready': Harris on if Trump denies election result, 5 takeaways from NBC interview")
Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris has said that she has teams in place to see through a transition of power in case her Republican rival former President Donald Trump refuses to accept her victory.
Trump continues to falsely claim that he won the 2020 US presidential election and it was wrongfully stolen from him. In case Harris wins the 2024 election, there are fears that Trump may again reject the election result and resort to violence the way he egged on a mob that attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
In an interview with NBC News’ Hallie Jackson, Harris said that she has teams in place to address the issue.
When asked about her plan if Trump again rejects the election result, Harris said that “we have the resources and the expertise and the focus on that as well”.
In the interview, Harris also spoke out key election issues of economy, Trump’s character, abortion rights, and politics around gender.
Harris breaks continuity from Biden — yet endorses his work
Harris said that her tenure would not be a continuation of the Biden administration and that she would have her own policies.
Harris said, “First of all, let me be very clear, mine will not be a continuation of the Biden administration. I bring my own experiences, my own ideas to it, and it has informed a number of my areas of focus, most of which are on to your point, lowering costs.”
Harris further said that “my presidency will be about bringing a new generation of leadership to America that is focused on the work that we need to do, to invest in the ambitions and aspirations of the American people”.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAt the same time, Harris did not abandon Biden and endorsed his four years. She said that he is an “extremely accomplished, experienced, and capable” in every way that you would want in a president.
Harris further said, “Joe Biden is the one who was able to bring NATO together during a crisis where for the first time in 70 years Europe saw and has seen war. Joe Biden has done the work that has been about being a leader on what we have done to fix so much of what has been broken in terms of the economy because of Donald Trump’s mismanagement. I speak with not only sincerity, but with a real firsthand account of watching him do this work. I have no reluctance in saying that.”
Harris seeks revival of American Dream
Harris said that the previous generation could count on the promise of the American Dream, but not the present generation and she seeks to change that.
Harris said, “The idea of the American dream was something that previous generations could count on, not as much anymore. Bringing down the cost of housing by doing what I have done in my career, that perhaps is a, is a different approach, which is really actively working with the private sector.
“For example, home builders, to create incentives for them to build millions of new homes and housing units so we can bring down the cost, including what I will do to give people a $25,000 down payment assistance if they are a first time home buyer. So these are examples. The example is what I’m going to do to expand the Child Tax Credit. Because, listen, young parents in particular, they need help.”
Harris reached out to average Americans and said that she has been travelling the countries and knows people’s issues, such as the rising grocery prices.
“So part of my plan includes what we need to do to bring down the price of groceries, including the work I will do dealing with price gouging, something I dealt with when I was attorney general, something I would deal with going forward. Cost of housing. You know, I’m speaking with people of every background in every area of the country, of every age,” said Harris.
Harris pitches herself as champions of working class
Harris’ campaign is not just about what she is but it is also in great deal about what she is not.
Harris has left no stone unturned to stress that she is not Trump, a man who abuses even in a church and hurls vulgarities at political rivals and seeks to throw political opponents in jail upon being elected.
In the interview with Jackson, Harris said that while her plans are aimed at the working class, Trump’s plans are aimed at helping the rich. She said that she is touring the swing states to offer voters “what objective analysts have shown to be the contrast between me and Donald Trump”.
“My plans are focused on working people, the middle class, and what we must do to strengthen hard working people to be able to do what they dream and aspire to be able to do. His plans are about giving tax cuts, massive tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations. His so-called plan for the economy, economists have estimated will exacerbate inflation and invite a recession by the middle of next year. So, this is a huge difference between he and I,” said Harris.
Abortion rights are non-negotiable, says Harris
Even as Harris has reached out to moderate Republicans and has campaigned with anti-abortion Republicans opposed to Trump, such as Liz Cheney, she clarified that abortion rights are “non-negotiable”.
“A basic freedom has been taken from the women of America: the freedom to make decisions about their own body., And that cannot be negotiable, which is that we need to put back in the protections of Roe v Wade and that is it,” said Harris.
Harris on gender and sexism
On aspiring to be the first woman, and only the second non-White person, to be the President of the United States, Harris said that while the United States is “absolutely” ready to see a woman president, voters don’t care about the candidate’s gender but about their ability to make their lives better and that’s what she is pitching to the voters — not her gender identity.
“The experience that I am having is one in which it is clear that regardless of someone’s gender, they want to know that their president has a plan to lower costs, that their president has a plan to secure America in the context of our position around the world. They want a president of the United States who honors our military, who understands the importance of America’s leadership around international rules and norms, and that is regardless of gender,” said Harris.
When asked about sexism in the election, Harris said she does not look at the election that way.
“I will never assume that anyone in our country should elect a leader based on their gender or their race, instead that that leader needs to earn the vote based on substance and what they will do to address challenges and to inspire people,” said Harris.
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