Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., recently shared his thoughts on Vice President Kamala Harris' apparent shift away from some far-left policies as the November election approaches.
In an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," Sanders offered a candid assessment of Harris' evolving stance on key issues, as reported by Fox News.
When questioned about Harris' change in position on policies such as Medicare-For-All and fracking, Sanders suggested that the vice president was taking a pragmatic approach. He emphasized that Harris was not abandoning her ideals but rather adjusting her strategy to increase her chances of winning the upcoming election.
Sanders, known for his own progressive stance, maintained that he still considers Harris a progressive despite their differing views on certain issues. He acknowledged that while their approaches may vary, particularly in healthcare, they share common ground on several important matters.
The Vermont senator highlighted areas where he believes Harris aligns with progressive values. These include expanding Medicare, raising the minimum wage, and addressing issues related to Social Security and affordable housing.
Sanders expressed optimism about Harris' potential success if she campaigns on these shared progressive ideals. He suggested that focusing on these issues could lead to a significant victory for the Democratic ticket.
Harris has addressed questions about her changing policy positions in recent interviews. During a CNN interview in August, the vice president defended her evolving stance, insisting that her core values remain unchanged.
Harris stated:
I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed. You 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. We did that with the Inflation Reduction Act.
The vice president emphasized continuity in her values, particularly regarding border security and environmental issues. She pointed to her past experience as California's attorney general to underscore her consistent approach to law enforcement and border-related matters.
A spokesperson for the Harris campaign has confirmed the shift in some key policy positions, framing it as a "pragmatic" approach aimed at building consensus. This strategy is presented as a contrast to their characterization of former President Donald Trump's agenda.
The campaign emphasizes Harris' commitment to bringing various perspectives together, citing the Biden-Harris administration's success in achieving bipartisan breakthroughs on issues such as infrastructure and gun violence prevention.
An adviser to the Harris campaign suggested that her current positions have been shaped by her three years of experience in the Biden administration, implying that governance has influenced her policy outlook.
As the election draws nearer, Harris' evolving policy positions are likely to remain a topic of discussion. Sanders' comments offer insight into how progressive leaders view these changes. The upcoming debate between Harris and Trump on Tuesday, hosted by ABC News, may provide further clarity on the vice president's current policy stances and how they compare to her previous positions.
