Harris, Trump court Fox News audience, with sharply different strategies

Kamala Harris did a testy evening interview with Fox host Brett Baier, while Donald Trump spoke to a friendlier town hall crowd.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump both courted Fox News viewers Wednesday, with the vice president making a play for undecided voters in a combative interview and the former president trying to improve his standing with women in a friendly environment.

Although they appeared on the same network, the appearances showed their divergent media and electoral strategies. The vice president directed her pitch toward Republicans and independents who might be frustrated by President Biden’s handling of the economy and the border but have reservations about giving Trump another term. Harris has been doing more challenging interviews, including CBS’s “60 Minutes,” in recent weeks in addition to friendlier platforms.

Trump, who has largely been sticking to conservative media, did a town hall hosted by Fox News’s Harris Faulkner in Georgia before an audience of supportive women. The former president has emphasised maximising turnout among his base voters. He has tried to make inroads with Black and Latino voters — voting blocs that usually side with Democrats by wide margins — but hasn’t moderated his views to appeal to the centre.

In her testy interview with Bret Baier, marked by frequent interruptions, Harris more clearly separated herself from Biden that she had previously. “Let me be very clear, my presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” Harris said. “I represent a new generation of leadership. I, for example, am someone who has not spent the majority of my career in Washington, D.C.”

Pressed repeatedly on the Biden administration’s immigration policies, Harris portrayed herself as more solutions-oriented than Trump and distanced herself from her previous, more-liberal positions.

Asked when she first noticed that Biden’s mental faculties were diminishing, Harris didn’t directly answer: “I have watched him from the Oval Office to the situation room, and he has the judgment and the … experience to do exactly what he has done in making very important decisions on behalf of the American people.” Asked about Biden again, she changed the topic to Trump’s fitness.

Harris emphasised that she welcomes ideas from Republicans and the business sector, while criticising Trump’s rhetoric and describing him as a leader who is focused on “demeaning and engaging in personal grievances.”

Her comments were part of the sharper attacks she has launched against Trump in recent days. In her closing argument, Harris is stressing her support from prominent Republicans and leaning into the potential of a second Trump term. She has highlighted his recent comments describing his political opponents as “the enemy from within,” making the case that voters should choose country over party.

The interview aired after Harris held an event in Pennsylvania with Republicans by her side. She contrasted Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election and his efforts to seek political retribution with her pledge to work across the aisle if elected. “It is clear Donald Trump is increasingly unstable and unhinged, and he is seeking unchecked power,” she said.

Harris reiterated her plan to appoint a Republican to her cabinet and create a bipartisan panel to advise her on policies. “The coalition we have built has room for everyone who is ready to turn the page on the chaos and instability of Donald Trump,” she said. “And I pledge to you to be a president for all Americans.”

Trump’s appearance on Fox News highlighted how his campaign is working to boost voter turnout among people who support him already. The town hall — geared to the women who watch the conservative network during the day — was an effort for Trump to bridge the gender gap he has faced as women are concerned about the loss of abortion rights in the country, an act by the Supreme Court for which Trump has taken credit.

With a folksy background of chuck wagons, American flags and yellow flowers, Trump answered questions on topics ranging from the economy to foreign policy. The entire room of women raised their hands when asked if they were concerned about biological men playing in women’s sports.

Trump repeated several false statements that went unchecked by Faulkner, including an exaggeration of the inflation rate and the estimated number of immigrants who have crossed the border illegally.

Near the end of the town hall, Trump said “everybody,” including “the Democrats” and “the liberals,” wanted abortion rights to be decided by the states, adding “nobody wanted it to be in the federal government.” Harris has said if she is elected, she will push Congress to pass a law enshrining the right to an abortion.

Asked about protecting infertility care, which has been at risk since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Trump called himself “the father of IVF,” and said he supported it.

When Faulkner pointed out that Democrats’ response to the town hall was an event featuring the family of Amber Thurman, a woman who died after driving across state lines to get abortion medication, Trump said, “We’ll get better ratings, I promise.” The women and Faulkner laughed.

Dow Jones