Transcripts For CNN The First Interview Harris Walz A CNN Exclusive 20240903

Georgia, a watershed moment in the 2024 campaign. And you will see it only here on cnn democratic president ial nominee Kamala Harris and Vice President ial nominee Tim Walz tonight, the new democratic ticket in their first interview, i crew in the final sprint to election Shan Day one their top priorities for the country. What would you do on Day One in the White House . The tough questions on theiR Records. The steps that youre talking about now, why have you done them already . What do you say to voters who arent sure whether they can take you at your word taking on Donald Trump people might be surprised to hear that You Have never interacted with him, met him facetoface. That fateful Phone Call from Joe Biden. Ill give you a little too much information and their take on those viral convention images. Its very humbling its very humbling in many ways i dont know as a father, i could have ever imagined that with just days until early voting begins, a defining moment in the race for the White House cnns Exclusive Interview of the democratic nominees starts now good evening. Were live from savannah, georgia. Im Dana Bash and this is a state very much up for grabs inbetween a Whirlwind Series of stops. I sat down with the democratic candidate for president and her Running Mate Today at kims cafe here and savannah inside, nothing was off the table. And you will see our interview in its entirety the Vice President s first as her partys standard bearer, responding to her critics and answering our questions its good to see you. This is not where Vice President harris thought she would be going to georgia . Yes. Seventh trip there this year for me. A Surprise Nominee for president , just months from Election Day set in motion after a stunning debate if we finally beat medicare, who some within your own party are wondering if President Biden should even step aside. What do you say to that there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish and then an extraordinary decision. I decided the best way forward is to pass the torch for new generation what usually takes years of planning coming together in a matter of weeks after a historic nomination at the convention in chicago on behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on earth i accept your nomination the Harriswalz Ticket is now pushing forward with the shortest president ial campaign in modern history. What did You Hear from voters here are very optimistic we joined them on the trail as they visited the battleground of georgia just 68 days from the Election Madam Vice President governor walz. Thank you so much for sitting down with me and bringing the Bus Buster is well underway here in georgia. You have less time to make your case to voters than any candidate in modern american history. The voters are really eager to hear what your plans are. If you are elected, what would you do on Day One in the White House . Well, there are a number of things i will tell You First and foremost. One of my highest priorities is to do what we can to support and strengthen the middle class when i look look at the aspirations, the goals, the ambitions of the american people, i think that people are ready for a new way forward in a way that generations of americans have been fueled by hope and optimism. I think said heavily in the last decade we have had in the former president s someone who is really been pushing an agenda and an environment that is about diminishing the character and the strength of who we are as americans really dividing our nation. And i think people are ready to turn the page on that. So what would you do Day One . Day one, its gonna be about one implementing my plan for what i call an Opportunity Economy ive already laid out a number of proposals in that regard. Which include what were going to do to bring down the cost of everyday goods, where were going to do to invest in americas small businesses. What were going to do to invest in families for example, extending the Child Tax Credit to 6,000 for families for the first year of their Childs Life to help them buy a car seat, to help them buy Baby Clothes boats, a crib. Theres the work that were going to do that is about investing in the american family around affordable housing. A big issue in our country right now so there are a number of things on Day One. What about you . Well, im excited about this agenda to as i said, the idea of Inspiring America To what can be. And i think many of these things that the Vice President is proposing are things that we share in values and the Child Tax Credit is one we know that reduces Childhood Poverty by a third, we did it in minnesota to have a federal partner in this unbelievable. I think in the impact that we can make, you talk about, you call it the Opportunity Economy you are well aware that right now many americans are struggling. Theres a crisis of affordability one of your Campaign Themes is were not going back but i wonder what you say to voters who do want to go back when it comes to the economy specifically, because their groceries for less expensive housing was more affordable when Donald Trump was president well lets start with the fact that when Joe Biden and i came in office during the height of a pandemic. We saw over 10 Million jobs were lost people i mean, literally we were all tracking the numbers. Hundreds people a day were dying because of covid the economy had crashed, in large part all of that because of mismanagement by Donald Trump of that crisis. When we came in, our highest priority was to do what we could to rescue america. And today we know that we have inflation at under 3 . A lot of our policies have led to the region yeah, look at that. America recovered faster than any wealthy nation Around The World. But you are right prices and particular for groceries are still too high. The american people know it. I know it, which is why my agenda includes what we need to do to bring down the price of groceries, for example, dealing with an issue like Price Gouging, what we need to do to extend the Child Tax Credit to help young families be able to take care of their children in their most formative years. What we need to do to bring down the cost of housing. My proposal includes what would be a Tax Credit of 25,000 for firsttime home buyers. So they can just have enough to put a Down Payment on a home which is part of The American Dream and their aspiration. But do it in a way that allows them to actually get on the path to achieving that goal in that dream, You Have been Vice President for threeandahalf years the steps that youre talking about now, why havent you done them already . Well, first of all, we had to recover as an economy and we have done that. Im very proud of the work that we have done that his brought inflation down to less than 3 . The work that we have done to cap the cost of insulin at 35 a month for seniors Donald Trump said he was going to do a number of things its including allowing medicare to negotiate Drug Prices never happened we did it. So now, as i travel in the state of georgia and around our country, the number of seniors that have benefited. Ive met. I was in nevada recently. Grandmother he showed me heR Receipts. And before week capped the cost of insulin for seniors at 35 a month. She was Playing Hundreds of dollars up to thousands of dollars a month for her insulin. Shes not doing that any maintain bidenomics its a success. I maintain that when we do the work of bringing down Prescription Medication for the american people, including capping the cost of the annual cost of Prescription Medication for seniors at 2,000. When we do what we did in the first year of being an office to extend the Child Tax Credits so that we cut Child Poverty in america by 50 when we do what we have done to invest in the american people and bringing manufacturing back to the united states. So that we created over 800,000 new manufacturing jobs, bringing business back to america. What we have done to improve the supply chain. So were not relying on foreign governments just supply american families with their basic needs. Ill say that thats good work. Theres more to do, but thats good work. I want to get some clarity on where you stand on some key policy Issues Energy is a Big One. When you were in congress, you supported the green new deal and in 2019, you said, quote, theres no question. Im in favor of banning fracking. Fracking, as you know, is it pretty big issue, particularly in your Mustwin State of pennsylvania do you still want to ban fracking . No. And i made that clear on the Debate Stage in 2020 that i would not ban fracking as Vice President , i did not ban fracking as president. I will not ban fracking in 2019. I believe in a town hall, you said you were asked, would you commit to implementing a federal ban on fracking on your first day in office and you said theres no question. Im in favor of banning fracking. Yes it changed in that campaign in 2020, i made very clear where i stand. We are in 2024 and ive not changed that position nor will i going forward, i kept my word and i will keep my word. What made you change that position at the time well, lets be clear. My values have not changed i believe it is very important that we take seriously what we must do to guard against what is a clear crisis in terms of the climate and to do that, we can do what we have accomplished thus far, the inflation reduction act, what we have done to invest by my calculation over probably a trillion over the next ten years, investing in clean Energy Economy, what weve already done, creating over 300,000 new clean energy jobs. That tells me from my experience as Vice President , we can do it without banning fracking. In fact, dana dana, excuse me i cast the the tiebreaking vote that actually increased leases for fracking as Vice President so im very clear about where i stand. And was there some policy or scientific data that you saw that you said, okay, i get it. Now what i have seen is that we can we can grow and we can increase a thriving clean Energy Economy without banning fracking, okay another issue, Big One is immigration. As Vice President , you were tasked with addressing the root causes of migration in southern countries not a part of Central American northern part of Central America that deals with, that affects the southern border of the u. S during the Bidenharris Administration, there were record numbers of illegal Border Crossings why did the Bidenharris Administration wait threeandahalf years to implement sweeping aside hellen restrictions. Well, first of all the root causes work that i did as Vice President that i was asked to do by the president has actually resulted in a number of benefits including historic investments by american businesses in that region the number of immigrants coming from that region has actually she reduced since we began that work. But i will say this, that Joe Biden and i and our administration worked with members of the united States Congress on an Immigration Issue that is very significant to the american people and to our security, which is the border and through bipartisan work, including some of the most conservative members of the united States Congress. A bill was crafted which we supported, which i support Donald Trump, God Word of this bill that would have contributed to securing our border. And because he believes that it would not have helped him politically, he told his folks in congress, dont put it forward. He killed the bill a Border Security Bill that would have put 1,500 more agents on the border and let me tell you something. The Border Patrol endorsed the bill. And im sure and im sure in large part because they knew they were working around the clock and 1,500 more agents would help them. That bill would have allowed us to increase seizures of fentanyl. Ask any community in america that has been devastated by fentanyl, what passing that bill would have done to address their concern and a pain that theyve you ariane. So you would push that legislation again. I just want to ask to push it. I will make sure that it comes to my desk and i would sign it just one other question about someThing That you set in 2019 when You First ran, there was a debate. You raised your hand when asked whether or not the borders should be decriminalized, do you still believe that . I believe there should be consequences. We have laws that have to be followed and enforced that Address And Deal with people who cross our border illegally. And there should be consequences. Lets be clear in this race, im the only person who has prosecuted transnational Criminal Organizations who trafficking guns, drugs, and Human Beings im the only person in this race who actually served a Border State as Attorney General to enforce our laws. And i would enforce our laws as president going forward, i recognize the problem generally speaking, how should voters look at some of the changes that youve made that youve explained some of here in your policy, is it because You Have more experience now and youve learned more about the information is because you were running for president and a democratic primary and should they feel comfortable and confident that what youre saying now is going to be your policy moving forwarD Dana, i think the most important and most significant aspect of my Policy Perspective anD Decisions is my values have not changed. You mentioned the green new deal i have always believed and ive worked on it that the Climate Crisis is real. That it is an urgent matter two which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time we did that with the inflation reduction act. We have set goals for the united states of america. And by extension, the globe around when we should meet certain standards foR Reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions. As an example, that value has not changed my value around what we need to do to secure our border. That value has not changed. I spent two terms as the Attorney General of california prosecuting transnational criminal organization, violations of american laws regarding the passage illegal passage of guns, drugs, and Human Beings across our Border Border my values have not changed. So that is the reality of it. And four years of being Vice President , ill tell you one of the aspects to your point is traveling the country extensively. I mean, im here in georgia. I think somebody told me 17 times since ive been Vice President in georgia alone i believe it is important to build consensus and it is important to find a common place of understanding of where we can actually solve problems on that note, You Had a lot of republican speakers at the convention. Will you appoint a republican to your cabinet . Yes, i would anyone know what no one in particular mind i got it. We got 68 days to go at this election. So im not putting the cart before the horse, but i would i think i think its really important. I i have spent my career inviting diversity of opinion. I think its important to have people at the table when some of the most important decisions are being made that have different views, different experiences and i think it would be to the benefit of the american public to have a member of my cabinet who was a republican that was just the start of our wide ranging conversation. And we have some never before shareD Details about the Phone Call that changed everything between president Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris im just curious staying on President Biden when he called you and said he was pulling out of the race . What was that like . AnD Did he offer to endorse you right away or did you ask for it it was it was a sunday, ill give you too much information. Go for it. If theres no such thing. I dont Vice President and her Running Mate, i asked him about some of the controversies that have sprung up since harris put him on the ticket governor walz, the country is just starting to get to know you i want to ask you a question about how youve described your service kristen, the National Guard. But you said that youve carried weapons in war, but You Have never deployed actually in a War Zone, a Campaign Official said that you misspoke do tomorrow a twohour whole Story Special the candidates and theiR Record on the key issues of the elections what does their past tell us about how they will lead the whole story with Andnderson Coopoper Tomorr startingng at Eight T on Cnn Fr ststarting strtrong to its Beea Week so many w ways to savave l, readady wallet, happy. Thahats 365 by w whole food marketet. 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Sosomeone neededs to cusustomiz Sasave Hundrededs of libertyty l wawait, therees an e elevatory pay foR R what you N Need Today this i is our callll to Inactito Answswer Thehe call of t the rer were gettingng Takeoeout Becau Weve beeeen out t all Day Lon its s the lazy B Boy Labor D D my sport propels me forward. Contra Costa College Saw Potential in me that i didnt know i had. Focus. Determination. Drive. Contra Costa College helped me blaze the trail. Now im a comet, and theres no stopping me. Come on, this is your shot. Take it. Join the team at Contra Costa college. Start today at contracosta. Edu threetoone, Threetoone Today welcome back. Live from savannah, georgia and our Exclusive Interview with Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in just 12 days, harris will meet Donald Trump on a Debate Stage in philadelphia. And when i say meet, i mean, literally meet would you believe they have never talked Face To the only time theyve even been in the same room was when harris was a senator watching trumps state of the Union Address now its trump watching harris on the Campaign Trail with Money And Momentum behind her and making her case directly to voters as voters are getting to know Kamala Harris, they want answers on how she will make their lives better she heard that here at Sandfly Bbq in savannah. Know were going to do to increase access to capital for small businesses. Ill be rolling out drinks week, part of what were going to be doing in terms of but Tax Credit on the trail. She talks about her experience years in the courtroom as a District Attorney and eventually californias Attorney General. She wants to reframe the contest as the prosecutor versus the felon. I know Donald Trump jalen with them the former president , is turning to a welldefined playbook of personal attacks. I didnt know she was black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn i and now she wants to be known as black. And just 12 days. The nominees will meet facetoface for the first time. Shes not a gooD Debater. Shes not a smart person. She doesnt want to debate if you got someThing To say i want to ask you about your opponent, Donald Trump i was a little bit surprised. People might be surprised to hear that You Have never interacted with him, met him facetoface . Thats going to change soon. But what i want to ask you about is what he said last month, he suggested that You Happened to turn black recently for political purposes questioning a Core Part of your identity and his same old tired playbook next question, please know. Thats it. Okay lets talk about some foreign policy issues that would be on your plate if you become commander in chief. President biden has tried unsuccessfully to end the war between israel and hamas in gaza. Hes been doing it for months and months along with you. Would you do anything differently, for example, would you withhold some u. S. Weapons shipments to israel . Thats what a lot of people on the Progressive Left want you to do let me be very clear unequivocal, and unwavering in my commitment is real defense and its ability to defend itself and thats not going to change. But lets take a step back October 7 7, 1,200 people were massacred many young people who are simply attending a Music Festival women were horribly raped as i said, then i say today, israel had a right, has a right to defend itself. We would and how it does so matters far too many innocent palestinians have been killed and we have got to get a deal done. We wrote in doha we have to get a deal done. This war must end. In the meantime, we must get a deal that is about getting the hostages out. Ive met with the families of the american hostages. Lets get the hostages out. Lets get the ceasefire done, but no change in policy in terms of arms and so forth. Know, we have to get a deal done. Dana. Dana, we have to get a deal done when you look at the significance of this to the families, to the people who are living in that region a deal is not only the right Thing To do to end this war, but will unlock so much of what must happen next. I remain committed since ive been on october 8, to what we must do to work toward a twostate solution. Where israel is secure and an equal measure, the power of palestinians have Security And Selfdetermination anD Dignity governor walz, the country is just starting to get to know you. I want to ask you a question about how youve described your service and the National Guard at you said that you carried weapons in war, but You Have never deployed actually in a War Zone a Campaign Official said that you misspoke to do well, first of all, im incredibly proud to have done 24 years of wearing the uniform of this country equally proud of my service in a Public School classroom, whether its congress or the governor. My record speaks for itself, but i think people are coming to get to know me. I speak like they do i speak candidly. I wear my emotions on my sleeves and i speak especially passionately about about our children being shot in schools and around, around guns. So i think people know me, they know who i am, they know where where my heart is. And again, my record has been out there for over 40 years to be for itself the the idea. That you said that you were in war, did you misspeak as the campaign has said, i said we were talking about in this case, this was after school shooting, the ideas of carrying these weapons of war. And my wife, the english teacher, told me my grammars not always correct. But again, if its not this, its an attack on my children for showing love for me or its attack on my dog im not gonna do that. And the one thing ill never do is ill never demean and other Members Service in any way. I never have and i never will. I just one other question because again, this is all new this was not however many days ago. This was not an either of your bingo cards, especially yours. You had to clarify that You Had said that you and your wife used ivf but it turned out you used a different kind of fertility in order to have children and then when you ran for congress in 2006, your campaign repeatedly made false statements about 1995 arrest for drunk and Reckless Driving what do you say to voters who arent sure whether they can take you at your word. Well, ive been very public. I think they can see my students come out, former folks. Ive served with and they do they vouch for me. I certainly own my mistakes when i make them. The one thing ill tell you is of i wished in this Country Wouldnt have to do this. I spoke about our infertility issues because its hell and families know this and i spoke about the treatments that were available to us that had those beautiful children there. Thats quite a contrast. And folks that are trying to take those rights away from us. And so i think people know who i am they know that record. Theyve seen that ive taught thousands of students. Ive been out there and i wont apologize for peaking passionately whether its guns in schools or protection of reproductive rights. The contrast could not be clear between what were running against the Vice President s position on this has been clear, and i think most americans get it if youve been through that dont think theyre cutting hair is on ivf or iuie. I think theyre cutting harris on an Abortion Ban and the ability to be able to deny families the chance to have a beautiful child up next the moment that changed everything when Kamala Harris got a Phone Call from President Biden that he was dropping out of the race it was it was a sunday. So ill give you a little too much information. Go for it. 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Welcome back, live from savannah, georgia and our Exclusive Interview with the democratic president ial and Vice President ial nominees, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz its hard to believe it was just 39 days ago. President biden shocked the world via tweet. Thats how we found out he was dropping his reelection bid. But before he tweeted the news, biden called his Vice President and for the first time we are hearing about that Phone Call and exactly what Kamala Harris was doing when she answered but we started this discussion with the moment that set all of this in motion. Cnns President Ial Debate. And whether President Biden was strong enough to lead this nation again Vice President harris, you were a very staunch defender of President Bidens capacity to serve another four years right after the debate, you insisted that President Biden is extraordinarily strong, given where we are now. Do You Have any regrets . About what you told the american people . No, not at all not at all. I have served with President Biden for almost four years now and ill tell you its one of the greatest honors of my career truly he cares so deeply about the american people. He is so smart and loyal to the american people and i have spent hours upon hours with him being in the Oval Office or the Situation Room . He has the intelligence, the commitment, and the judgment anD Disposition that i think the american people rightly deserve in their president by contrast, the former president has none of that and so one, i i am so proud to have served as Vice President to Joe Biden and to im so proud to be running with Tim Walz for president united states, and to bring america what i believe the american people deserve, which is a new way forward and turn the page on the last decade of what i believe has been contrary to where the spirit of our country really lies with the last decade, of course, the last threeandahalf years has been part of your administration . Im talking about an era that started about a decade ago, where there is soMe Suggestion warped. I believe it to be that the measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you beat down instead of where i believe most americans are, which is to believe that the true measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up thats whats at stake as much as any other detail that we coulD Discuss in this election because we havent had a chance to talk. Im just very is staying on President Biden when he called you and said he was pulling out of the race . What was that like . AnD Did he offer to endorse you right away or did you ask for it was it was a sunday, so ill give you a little too much information. Go for it. Theres no such Thing That Vice President My Family was staying with us and including my Baby Nieces. And we had just had pancakes and antique. Can i have more bacon . Yes, ill make it more bacon and then we were going to sit we were sitting down two to do a puzzle and the Phone Rang and it was Joe Biden. And he told me what he haD Decided to do and i asked him, are you sure and he said yes. And thats how i learned about it. And what about The Endorsement . Did you ask for it . He was very clear that he was going to support my son when he called to tell you, he said, im pulling out of the race and im going to support you. Well, my first thought was not about me to be honest with you. My first thought was about him to be honest i think history is going to show a number of things about Joe Bidens presidency i think history is going to show that in so many ways it was transformative. Bid on what we have accomplished around. Finally, investing in americas infrastructure, investing in new economies, in new industries what we have done to bring our allies back together and have confidence in who we are as americans and grow that alliance. What we have done to stand true to our principles including the one of the most important international rules and norms which is the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity i think history is going to show, not only has Joe Biden lead an administration that has achieved those extraordinary successes but the character of the man is one that he has been in his life and career, including as a president , quite selfless and puts the american people first a passionate defense of the man who chose her to be his Running Mate four years ago. Four years later, harris made a choice of her own and with governor walzs rise to national Prominence Or Star was born at the convention. Gus walz will hear about that moment between father and son. The woman who could make history in the Oval Office on this Iconic Photo Madam Vice President , the photograph that has gone viral you were speaking when youre grandnieces that you were just talking about . It was watching you accept the nomination. You didnt explicitly talk about Gender Or Race in your speech, but it obviously means a lot to a lot of people that viral picture really says it. What does it mean to you Kamala Harris, yellow trump . Debate everyones been waiting for follows cnn for complete coverage and exclusive pre and postdebate analysis. A cnn special event, the Abc News President Ial Debate Simulcast Septemember 10 at t nine on Cnnd Streamaming on maxax y youveve yoyour Sunday Y Obsesession and gogot you now w with V Verizon Nfl Sundayay T Ticket Fromom Yo Tv o on us, anD D a a great dea galaxixies efieldld six for a total valulue of 1,250 only on verizon. See you sunday. I am Tony Hawk and like many of you, i take a s stand to reduce choholesterol, but stas can alsoso deplete C Cookie ten levels. Ththats s where my docR Recommmmended qn a all Coc U Ut kuno, Husbsband Number o One Cardiolologist recommended foro of cokoke. You timim kunal, t branD D i trusust. 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Today were back live from savannah, georgia and our cnn Exclusive Interview with Vice President Kamala Harris and her Running Mate, who was supposed to be, if you listened to some experts have big name a prominent leader from a swing state, Pennsylvania Or Arizona but it is a little known guy outside of his Home State where Minnesota Nice is a source of pride. But behind all of that folksy Humor And Flannel Tim Walz is far from just being mr. Nice guy when it comes to needling Donald Trump governor, you obviously have spoken to voters all over your state for years. Now, what are you learning in a place like Georgia Explosion in all business growth. The one thing is workforce and childcare. Because workers have to have Job Campaigning with Tim Walz who dont do it. Finding his role in this historic campaign can you be my Running Mate . And lets get this thing On The Road i would be honored, madam Vice President after bursting onto the national stage with this this word, these guys are just weird, known as a folksy father of two from rural america. Now were Running Mate who is not holding back listen to the guy hes talking about, Hannibal Lecter and shocking sharks and just whatever crazy thing pops into his mind and finding his own rhythm with his new boss what brisket and greens and magnitudes what about you . I had the Brisket Coleslaw on this. And what about the Spice Situation that tabasco, whats happening . And with that, im going to live through for himself, the Vice President s growing fevers at heR Residence or shes trying to like, bring me along on this, you know, minnesotans. Its okay. Im there lets do you just have to ask you both about to stand out moments aside, of course, from the addresses that you both gave, but stand out moments that were perhaps unexpecteD During the convention, you mentioned one of them, governor a moment that you shared the world shared with your son, gus. You were speaking the cameras caught him. So incredibly proud of you. So emotional saying thats my dad yeah, i i dont know as a father, i could have ever imagined that i grateful for so many reasons to be on this ticket, but that moment to understand what was really important to have my son feel a sense of pride in me that i was trying to do the right thing and it was you try and protect your kids, you know, get brings it brings notoriety and things, but it was just such a visceral emotional moment that im just im grateful i got to experience it and im so proud of him. Im proud of him. Im proud of im proud of gwen. Shes a wonderful mother and these are great kids and i think the one thing is talking about the arrow or in his our politics can be better. It can be different. We can we can show some of these things and we can have families involved in this. And i hope that there was a hope people felt that out there and i hope that they hugged their kids a little tighter because you just never know and life can be kind of hard. And last question, madam Vice President , the photograph that has gone viral you were speaking when youre grandnieces that you were just talking about was watching you accept the nomination. You didnt explicitly talk about Gender Or Race in your speech, but it obviously means a lot to a lot of people on that viral picture really says it what does it mean to you i listened, i am running because i believe that i am the best person to do this job at this moment. For all americans, regardless of Race And Gender but i did see that photograph and i was deeply touched by it. And youre right. Shes the back of her head, her Tool Braids and and then im, in the front of the photograph obviously speaking and its very humbling its very humbling in many ways. Did she Talk To you about it afterwards . Oh, she had a lot to talk she listened to everything. She listens to every give me your hot take. Oh, yeah, definitely madam Vice President and governor walz. Thank you so much for your time. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you, dana. Thank you. This was Vice President harris, his first Real Unscripted Setting where voters could see and hear her explaining some of her policy positions now and how they differ from before she became Vice President and why this was the first we heard those details about an extraordinary Phone Call from the president dropping out of the race and endorse were seeing his Vice President someThing That will certainly go down in history. Cnn has also invited both President Trump and senator j. D. Vance to sit down with us. We hope to bring that interview to you as well. We have plenty of cnns special coverage ahead. I want to go to my friend and colleague, abby phillip, who is standing by with some of the best political minds in the business, abbey, we have them all here. Dana, youve given us a lot to chew on our hats off to you. Thank you very much. Stick around though we will make sure to come back to you throughout the next hour. I want to get in the room here to get some initial reactions with our great panel, david axelrod, lets start with you. What did you make of how Vice President harris did . Did she meet the moment . Yeah. I think she did what she needed to do. What she needs to do is be the same person that people have seen on the stage for the last month. And have seen a new sense of sort of confidence of calm man comfortable a. Comfort that we havent seen before from or we didnt see certainly the last ran, she was she was very connected to her. What she seemed strong, she seemed competent, she seemed like someone who could be president of the united states. That was the first test. One thing i know we got a lot of opinions here we have time for you but i think she i well, two things then. I think that she she handled the issue of her changes or perceived changes in policy pretty well. I mean, i think the idea that her values have been the same and have been consistent was its a good bridge. There. One Thing That i want to note is the core we were asking the question earlier, how will she handle the president and will she separate herself from the president . And there might be some political logic to doing that. Shes turned about turning the page. Does she want to be a continuation thats what the republicans will want to make her out. Ill give scott the opportunity to do it in a second. But as she spoke i thought it showed a certain character. The way she talked about Joe Biden, she didnt run away from him. She gave him i think his due. She understands that theres some political risks to that that actually was elevating to me in a way that i hadnt expected. So i think on the whole this was a good night. It wasnt a huge i dont think she moved the ball that much forward, but shes certainly didnt fall back. The do no Harm Principle of politicking here. I mean interviews, they can be combat, they can be a conversation. And what she needed to do was communicate. And so often in the past, she comes comes to an interview in a way prepared to be the interrogator. And people already know shes good at asking sharp, tough questions of people who she feels deserve scrutiny. Its her being under that scrutiny that has been where the stakes have been higher. And i think today it did show that she has the ability to sit down and have that back and forth that republicans are talking about. Can she really do it . So how many more times . I dont know how much that matters, and i do get a little nervous that in the media were preoccupied with like, how much access, how many conversations as she going to have in the settings we deem most valuable to voters when this is a campaign that is actually making a mark in an interesting way, reaching out to people directly. But it said You Have also spent a couple of times now interviewing her what did you make of how she handled it . I mean, to davids point, a little bit more comfortable now than she has been in the past. Yeah. I think theres been a consistent story of groceries been in more of these settings. I think we saw that somewhat tonight. I also think the question about how policy positions have changed. There were clearly ready with an answer about how the values have been consistent from one of the, one of the lines that stuck out was this is a new i think people are ready for a new way forward. She said that a couple of times it goes to davids point. I dont think theres a Policy Separation that theyve created with biden. Obviously, she gave a personal defensive him that but theyre also very clearly trying to position her as a Change Candidate in the same way to Donald Trump is positioning himself as a Change Candidate in some ways, it feels as if thats going to be the crux of what this comes down to in november is whether that is bought by the electorate or not, an interest interestingly, there is some polling to suggest that its a battle right now. Its actually a live ball. It seems that thats where despite live in die. But i think its really, its really interesting because for someone who doesnt want to talk about Race And Gender, who doesnt want to kind of put that identity for where it is allowing her to make the case of change without saying those words. And i thought that was really in the air of this speech. But to the point about normal versus as we are the Future Versus Pass dichotomy that theyre trying to create. I think they landed that tonight. I think they want to present them as a package that is relatable to people and that is someone feel familiar whose story is familiar, whose message is familiar, and relatable. And i think thats someThing That shes grown in and we saw that this evening, just saying ashlyn. So i think well break this down into three parts, values, vision and her voice. And i think she made it very clear that she is still committed to her values to be an american, to be a prosecutor, even though she may have changed on some positions and she clearly outlined outline where she had changed, i think on the vision, she draws the she attempted to draw the contrast without talking about Donald Trump, but still being very clear and not berating her current boss actually, when you think about the opposite ticket of j. D. Vance, where Donald Trumps Vice President isnt even on the ticket anymore. We dont need to go down. Why that is the case . But she was clearly able to draw her vision for how she wants to take the country for it with her opportunity. Economy, and then her voice. I think so many americans want to know who ishi anD Does she have command of her voice . And she answered every question. You might not like the way she answered him, but she answered him as a capable, qualified leader. And i do thank i think she moved the ball forward a little bit. Maybe she didnt score a touchdown tonight, but she definitely move down the field. All right. Scott i agree with astead about this idea of the question of who is going to change will be the fundamental defining question. The election. And i was sort of watching this you know, holistically, what is she saying . What she looked like, whats on the screen . So at the beginning when shes talking about biden in theiR Record, our screen said, this is called the chyron, the headline at the bottom, it said harris stands by biden administration economic record she is making it clear that she will embrace and be a continuation of bidens economic policy. His record, what theyve done, she didnt offer shafer no remorse, no regrets, no introspection about anyThing Theyve done. She continued to blame inflation on this fantasy Price Gouging idea. She had no additional thoughts on the economic situation in the country or what theyve done beyond just saying, Joe Biden, i have done a great job now if i were the trump people, i would be salivating over the idea that thats how they are going to run the race. I dont believe its tenable i also thought it was everyThing That she didnt take any responsibility at The End for telling the american people that Joe Biden was fine and he was strong. When know thats not true. Thats why hes out of the race and shes Still Standing by the idea he was fine and hes strong that hes fine Today Nobody believes that. I just think its Signs Point ai why isnt he running because hes too old Point Blank Fan Reason why Donald Trump probably shouldnt be running because hes too old and out of touch i think most americans know the truth. And when youre running to be president and youre willing to look them in the face and tell them someThing They know that, you know, is not true. It does speak a little bit to your to your care, scott curious what you think about this acts will voters care about that part of it, which is kind of backward looking . Or do they care about whats next . Well, i think part of what scott raised that could be problematic if they prosecuted properly is i think biden deserves a lot more credit, frankly, for guiding the country through the pandemic and the economic calamity that he walked into than he gets, but inflation over a period of years has been a heavy toll on people here and Around The World, but Around The World is not relevant here. And so to the degree that they can say she is going to continue doing exactly what Joe Biden was doing for people who dont have confidence in bidens policies, that is a prospective problem. I dont think the thing about this whole thing about you didnt can say it tonight, but youve said before and i just disagree with this notion that dan actually asked question where youve been there for threeandahalf years . No Vice President makes policy. Okay. Lets just make back. Nobody has said nobody, nobody, nobody talks about the pence years so why would he talks about the biden years went by . Alma was nobody does that. So but it is a challenge for her to take credit for the things that are good and to try and walk away from the things that are not what she did make policy though. I mean, she said i was the last person in the room on the stand and she cast now tiebreaking votes thats thats thats different than saying that she made the decision. Yeah. She was shot. She claimed to be his last and most Principal Adviser on afghanistan. That is not she said she was the last person in the room. What does that mean to you . Read the told him whatever she thought and he did whatever he wanted to do. One of the things that struck me about and as someone who like astead has covered calmly harris before, she is a Homework Doer and you can see the homework has been done in this interview, and it really makes me wonder about as we push toward this debate thats coming up this meeting between these two what kind of debate . Sparring Partner Issue going to be against trump . And to me the answer was discipline. Yeah. Shes ready to be on the defense. I dont think that is a difficult place for her to be. I think its easier for her to be prosecutorial. And i believe isnt the Sparring Partner that trump is preparing with tulsi gabbard, who has actually been Toe To toe with Kamala Harris. So i do you think you are going to see an energetic conversation, but i do. But part of it is what is she like on the offense . We know what she is like on the defense, everyone. Thank you very much. And thank You For watching Cnns Coverage continues dramatically now that dial. Were about to flip it for you in five 543 in thehe near fututure