Is she is being held back by him?
Political strategist James Carville has urged Vice President Kamala Harris to distinguish herself from President Biden to effectively position herself as a fresh and dynamic candidate. He also recommended that Harris end her prolonged absence from holding news conferences.
In an opinion piece for The New York Times, Carville emphasized that for Harris to present herself as a “certified fresh” candidate, she needs to decisively separate herself from Biden on specific policy issues that could define her potential presidency.
Carville, who has been one of the leading voices calling for Biden to step aside—particularly after his debate performance against former President Trump in June—offered Harris three key strategies to outmaneuver Trump in the November election. He advised that during their upcoming debate, Harris should allow Trump to reveal his own weaknesses.
“In the Sept. 10 debate, Harris should encourage Trump to be himself, which is exactly what his campaign fears most,” Carville suggested. He further advised, “She should let him interrupt her, and even provoke him into making wild claims about the previous election. Using humor at critical moments could help her show that Trump isn’t rattling her, and she should embrace any personal attacks as a mark of honor.”
Carville stressed the importance of Harris publicly distancing herself from Biden on policy matters, especially in a high-profile setting like a news conference. He recommended that she outline a comprehensive list of “new way forward” policies, explaining why she is diverging from Biden on these issues and how her approach would benefit the American people. Following this, Carville advised her to hold a news conference to address these differences, ensuring that media outlets no longer criticize her for limited access. “Don’t shy away from your differences with the president,” Carville urged. “Instead, embrace them with respect and transparency.”
Finally, Carville advised that Harris should demonstrate a “growth mindset” by openly addressing her past policy positions, particularly on issues such as climate change, semiautomatic rifle buyback programs, and healthcare.
