By Joe Concha. Media: Nypost
After five weeks of slobbering media coverage akin to the rhetorical version of a hot stone massage, Kamala Harris finally left the bubble that has carried her to record fundraising and competitive poll numbers with Donald Trump in key swing states.
And then the bubble burst.
The candidacy of the past 40 days as the Democratic nominee has been almost out of an Artificial Intelligence creation.
Harris was not allowed to speak to the press, nor was her running mate, Tim Walz.
Everything was packaged, scripted and homogenized.
When the candidates did speak, they were guided by their new god: a teleprompter.
But now they had to take questions from CNNās Dana Bash.
And even with their hands practically being held after the anchor asked questions that included multiple-choice answers and little follow-up, the potential president and veep fumbled and lied during the relatively short 18 minute, pre-taped interview.
Harris especially hurt herself in the places it matters most: Those key swing states.
Kamala Harris is not in the swing of thingsā¦
Swing . . . and a miss
In the topics that matter most in three key swing states, Kamala Harris showed that she was out of touch in Thursdayās interview:
ARIZONA
Top issue: Immigration
58% of Arizonans, of either party, think that the United States does not have control over its border ā a reality they see every day as a border state, according to a Redfield and Wilton Strategies poll.
Kamās response: CNNās Dana Bash claimed Harris was put in charge of āroot causesā ā avoiding the term used at the time, āborder czarā ā and even then Harris corrected her, saying she was only tasked with dealing with āNorthern Central America.ā So she dodged all responsibility on the flood of migrants from Venezuela and other South America nations (and maybe Nicaragua? What counts as āNorthern?ā) Harris insisted the biggest problem was that a recent border bill didnāt pass, while she has been in office for three-and-a-half years without any action.
MICHIGAN
Top issue: The auto industry
Just 20% of Michiganders, home of much of Americaās auto industry, back an electric vehicle mandate, the lowest of any state surveyed, according to Morning Consult.
Kamās response: āYou mentioned the Green New Deal. I have always believed, and I have worked on it, that the climate crisis is real, that it is an urgent matter to which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time.ā Harris has previously said those deadlines include getting rid of gas cars.
PENNSYLVANIA
Top issue: Energy and fracking
83% of Pennsylvanians believe drilling for more for gas and oil in the US would lower costs, 86% say it would improve national security, according to Morning Consult.
Kamās response: āThere is no question Iām in favor of banning fracking,ā she said in 2019. In the interview, she claimed she no longer wanted to ban fracking, but insisted, āMy values have not changed.ā Harris dubiously said she still favored the Green New Deal but would make an exception for fracking.
A flip and a flop
Take Harrisās answer on her flip-flopping on a myriad of issues: āDana, I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed,ā Harris replied.
āYou mentioned the Green New Deal. I have always believed, and Iāve worked on it, that the climate crisis is real, that it is an urgent matter to which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time.ā
Yes. We should include holding ourselves to deadlines around time. Thatās literally the definition of a deadline.
And if Harris believes the āclimate crisisā is real and her values havenāt changed, then shouldnāt we believe the 2019 version of Kamala Harris when she declared she would absolutely ban fracking, end the fossil fuel industry and end all offshore drilling?
If youāre a Pennsylvania voter, how do you feel about that?
Speaking of fracking, Harris also referenced a 2020 debate where she claims she said that she supported fracking.
One problem: She dropped out of the race before she got to 2020, so she must be talking about her October 2020 debate with then-Vice President Mike Pence.
A review of that transcript, however, shows no such statement being made.
In other words, she knowingly lied.
By the way, Harrisā sticking to her values also means sheās all for electric vehicle mandates (not popular in Michigan), abolishing ICE (not popular in Arizona), banning private health insurance, supports mandatory gun buy-back programs and supports sanctuary cities, while providing free healthcare for illegal immigrants (not popular anywhere except San Francisco).
Left to remain silent
Hereās the easiest bet you can make outside of predicting the Giants arenāt winning the Super Bowl this year: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are not going to be doing any interviews between now and the debate next month.
As for a press conference with questions from all sides?
No chance before Nov. 5.
Luckily for voters, when that debate happens between Trump and Harris, Kamala will also have to go much, much longer toe-to-toe with Trump than the 18 minutes she gave to CNN last night.
That debate is scheduled for 90 minutes.
No cheat sheets allowed.
And again, no teleprompter.
If Trump is prepared to hammer Kamala on policy, especially as it pertains to the economy, inflation, her planned tax hikes, domestic energy, trade, immigration and the border, heāll be back in the same driverās seat he was after the June 27 debate with Joe Biden.
Because, as we just witnessed, Kamala Harris without a script becomes a human Chernobyl.