Vice President Kamala Harris' recent appearance at a CNN town hall with Pennsylvania swing voters has drawn sharp criticism from political pundits, including former Obama adviser David Axelrod. While Harris aimed to connect with voters ahead of the looming election, her responses left many viewers - and analysts - underwhelmed. Axelrod, a veteran Democratic strategist, described her performance as "mixed," pointing to several moments where her evasive answers veered into what he called "Word Salad City."
One particularly pointed moment came when CNN moderator Anderson Cooper asked Harris if she would take a stronger stance on Israel than Donald Trump. Harris' response, which stretched over seven minutes, never directly answered the question. "There was a seven-minute answer, but none of it related to the question he was asking," Axelrod said during a post-event panel on CNN.
Axelrod wasn't the only one who noticed Harris' difficulty with direct answers. CNN host Abby Phillip echoed similar concerns, noting that Harris avoided conceding any potential issues with the current administration's policies on immigration - a key issue for voters. "She just didn't want to go there," Phillip said, referencing Harris' reluctance to acknowledge challenges with the Biden administration's immigration policy, even as the border crisis dominated headlines.
The town hall, held in Pennsylvania, aimed to appeal to undecided voters in battleground states. Yet Harris' performance seemed to fall short of winning over some of those on the fence. As Dana Bash remarked, "If her goal was to close the deal, they're not sure she did that." While Harris was praised for her passionate defense of abortion rights and strong criticism of Trump, her overall performance raised questions about her ability to connect with voters and articulate a clear vision for the future.
One of the most scrutinized exchanges centered around the U.S.-Mexico border. Cooper pressed Harris multiple times on whether the Biden administration had acted too late in addressing the surge in illegal immigration. Harris, who had been tasked by President Biden with addressing the issue, defended the administration's record but failed to offer specifics about why more aggressive actions hadn't been taken sooner. Cooper didn't relent, asking why executive actions that ultimately curbed immigration were not implemented in 2022 or 2023, when the crisis peaked. Harris maintained that the administration had been working with Congress to find a long-term solution but did not directly address why short-term fixes couldn't have been pursued earlier.
Beyond immigration, Harris also addressed Trump's potential return to office. In a particularly pointed moment, she described the former president as a fascist, aligning her views with those of Trump's former White House chief of staff, John Kelly. "Do you think Donald Trump is a fascist?" Cooper asked, citing Kelly's recent statement. Harris didn't hesitate. "Yes, I do," she responded. She went on to warn that if Trump were re-elected, he would focus on retribution and create an "enemies list" rather than addressing the needs of everyday Americans. "He's going to sit there - unstable, unhinged - plotting his revenge," she said.
Despite her strong rhetoric against Trump, Harris faced continued criticism for failing to clearly lay out her own vision. Axelrod pointed out that while Harris was forceful in her attacks on Trump, she missed opportunities to engage directly with voters and offer concrete solutions to their concerns. "She didn't do a lot of that," Axelrod said, noting that Harris often gave pre-rehearsed answers without addressing the specific questions from audience members.
Even with these missteps, Harris' performance had its strong moments. Axelrod acknowledged that she was "very strong coming out of the gate," particularly on issues like abortion rights, which she has consistently championed. Harris also ended the town hall with a message that Axelrod suggested her campaign should focus on: "Trump will have an enemies list, and I'll have a to-do list," she said, emphasizing that her priorities would be to address the concerns of ordinary Americans rather than engaging in political vendettas.
Harris' CNN town hall performance comes at a critical time, as the U.S. heads into the final stretch before the November 5 election. With Donald Trump maintaining a lead in polling averages across key battleground states, Harris' ability to sway undecided voters is seen as pivotal for the Democratic campaign. Yet, based on initial reactions, it remains unclear whether this town hall helped or hurt her efforts.
