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Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris defended the Biden administration's handling of illegal immigration in a contentious TV interview on Wednesday, pointing to Republicans' failure to pass a border security bill. During the interview with host Bret Baier on Fox News, Harris also addressed President Joe Biden's mental fitness, her tenure as vice president, and her previous support for gender-affirming surgeries for transgender inmates.

The exchange between Harris and Baier was heated, with both frequently speaking over each other. Harris appeared visibly frustrated at times but managed to convey her message to a conservative audience ahead of the November 5 election.

When asked to justify the administration’s decision to reverse some of former President Donald Trump’s restrictive immigration policies and to respond to a mother who lost her daughter to an undocumented immigrant, Harris expressed sympathy but emphasized, "Let's focus on what is happening right now." She claimed Trump had urged Republicans to reject a bipartisan immigration bill earlier this year because "he prefers running on problems instead of solving them."

While Trump and other Republicans argue that immigrants contribute to violent crime, research shows immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens.

Harris was also questioned about a previous comment that there was “not a thing” she would change about the Biden administration’s actions. She clarified, “My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” adding that she would bring fresh ideas from Republicans and business leaders to address issues like housing shortages and small business expansion.

TRUMP TEAM CRITICIZES INTERVIEW

Harris has previously defended Biden amidst rising questions about his mental fitness, particularly after a challenging June debate with Trump. During the interview, she reiterated her belief in Biden's “judgment” and “experience,” while questioning Trump’s qualifications for office. “Joe Biden is not on the ballot, Donald Trump is,” she pointed out.

Harris also responded to questions about her stance on using taxpayer money for gender-affirming surgery for transgender inmates, including undocumented individuals. Trump has spent significant funds on ads in key states highlighting the issue. Harris responded, “I will follow the law,” noting that gender-affirming treatments were also provided under Trump’s administration. She accused Trump of hypocrisy, saying, “You can't throw stones if you live in a glass house.”

The nearly 30-minute interview was Harris’ first appearance on the conservative network as a presidential candidate. Fox News has frequently hosted segments critical of Harris and supportive of Trump’s policies. Shortly after the interview concluded, the Trump campaign released a statement labeling it a "train wreck."

David Urban, a political strategist and former Trump campaign adviser, criticized Harris' performance, calling it weak and accusatory. He argued that she failed to take responsibility and used Trump as a scapegoat, which he claimed would result in “another losing media cycle” for her campaign.

However, Democrats viewed the interview as a success, with Harris handling tough questions on hostile ground without any major mistakes. Her team credited her for delivering a clear message, despite interruptions that limited her ability to give long responses—an issue she has faced criticism for in the past.

Brian Fallon, a spokesperson for Harris, said, "We achieved our goal. She reached an audience that might not usually hear her arguments and demonstrated resilience against a tough interviewer."

APPEALING TO REPUBLICANS

Harris’s interview was part of a broader effort on Wednesday to appeal to Republican voters. Before her appearance on Fox News, she spoke in Bucks County, Pennsylvania—one of several swing states crucial to the election. Harris highlighted Trump’s attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden, framing it as a violation of the U.S. Constitution and warning that Trump would repeat those actions if re-elected.

"He refused to accept the will of the people and the outcome of a free and fair election. He incited an armed mob to attack the U.S. Capitol, endangering police officers and even threatening his own vice president," Harris said.

More than 100 Republicans, including former congressman Adam Kinzinger, a member of the committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot, joined Harris in Bucks County. Harris emphasized her campaign’s openness to all voters, regardless of party, saying, "There’s a place for you in this campaign, no matter who you voted for last time."

A recent Reuters poll showed Harris leading Trump by a slim margin of 46% to 43%.

On the same day, Trump participated in a town hall for Latino voters on Univision and appeared at a Fox News town hall with an all-women audience.

Harris has been reaching out to voters disillusioned by Trump. Liz Cheney, a former Republican congresswoman and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, recently encouraged voters to support Harris, arguing Trump was unfit to lead the country.

Bucks County is a crucial battleground, with Biden having won there by around 17,000 votes in 2020, compared to Hillary Clinton’s much narrower victory in 2016. Republicans have since gained a voter registration edge in the county for the first time in years, now outnumbering Democrats by about 3,500 voters.

Harris is reportedly considering an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, which appeals to a broad audience across the political spectrum. Rogan has joked that a “puppet master” was behind Harris’ strong debate performance against Trump last month.

Paraphrasing text from "Reuters" all rights reserved by the original author.