Vice President Kamala Harris gave her first in-depth media interview since becoming the Democratic nominee for president, answering questions Thursday from CNN’s Dana Bash.
The pre-taped interview was conducted in Savannah, Ga., and Harris was joined by her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Earlier in the day, the resurgent Democratic ticket held a rally in the key swing state, while former President Donald Trump campaigned in Michigan.
With fewer than 70 days until the Nov. 5 election, every interview and campaign speech by the candidates will be scrutinized. Harris is scheduled to debate Trump on ABC News on Sept. 10.
Here are the key moments from the CNN interview.
A focus on the middle class on ‘day one’
Pressed by Bash on what she would do on “day one,” Harris focused on what she said was her agenda to bolster the middle class.
“Day one it’s going to be about, one, implementing my plan for what I call an opportunity economy,” Harris said. “I’ve already laid out a number of proposals in that regard, which includes what we’re going to do to bring down the cost of ordinary goods, what we’re going to do to invest in America’s small businesses, what we’re going to do to invest in families, for example, extending the child tax credit to $6,000 for families for the first year of their child’s life to help them buy a car seat, to help them buy baby clothes, a crib.”
Harris added that she would also begin pushing her plan to build more affordable housing across the country.
‘My values have not changed’
In one exchange, Bash asked Harris about policy changes on issues like her past support for the Green New Deal and for a ban on fracking since running in the Democratic primary for president in 2019.
"Dana, I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed,” Harris responded.
She went on to note her commitment to fighting climate change and to try to address the current wave of undocumented immigration
“We have set goals for the United States of America — and by extension the globe — around when we should meet certain standards for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as an example. That value has not changed,” Harris said. “My value around what we need to do to secure our border. That value has not changed.”