Kamala Harris and Tim Walz survive their first long-awaited interview after the nomination unscathed, but without landing any memorable shots. Thanks, or blame, also to CNN anchor Dana Bash, not very pressing, and to a pre-recorded format in an atmosphere that was perhaps too “familiar” and interspersed with reconstructions of the salient moments of the new Democratic ticket.

The only real news is the announcement by the Democratic candidate that she intends to nominate a Republican to her administration , as Barack Obama did with Robert Gates as defense minister: a further move to broaden the base, after having invited to the convention numerous exponents of the Grand Old Party who are critical of the tycoon.

"I've spent my career inviting diversity of opinion. I think it's important to have people at the table who have different opinions and different experiences when some of the most important decisions are being made. And I think it would be a benefit to the American public to have a Republican member of my Cabinet," she said. Harris later acknowledged some changes in her policy positions, as Trump disputes , but she attributed them to her experience as vice president and acquitted herself by saying that her values "have not changed."

For example, she said, she has always believed that “the climate crisis is real, it’s urgent,” citing the Biden administration’s laws and investments in the area. But she has pledged that as president she will not ban fracking — the controversial technique for extracting oil and gas from rocks that fuels a key industry in the swing state of Pennsylvania — even though she has previously supported a ban.

And she pledged to “enforce and enforce the laws on people who cross our border illegally,” even though she was previously in favor of decriminalization. “There should be consequences,” she said now, not without attacking Trump for having sunk the tough bipartisan agreement to strengthen border security, which she intends to re-propose and sign once in the White House. As for the tycoon’s sexist and racial accusations, she dismissed them as “the same old, tired old story.”

"The Americans are ready to take a new path and turn the page" from Trump, he continued, reiterating that his top priority, from day one in the White House, will be "supporting and strengthening the middle class". On the foreign policy front, no questions about Ukraine, while on the Middle East Harris repeated that "an agreement must be reached for a ceasefire and the release of hostages", asserting Israel's right to defend itself and relaunching the two-state solution. There will be no change in the supply of US weapons to the ally, he specified. Therefore, no embargo.

Walz played a bit part, saying he was “incredibly proud” of his 24 years in the National Guard but dodging a question about whether he had carried weapons in war, as he has said in the past : “My grammar is not always right,” he said. He then defended his 17-year-old son, who has attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and was mocked by Republicans for his strong emotional reaction to the sight of his father on stage at the convention, a moment he said made him realize “what’s really important.”

(Online Union)

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