U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris recently participated in a talk show-style event hosted by television icon Oprah Winfrey, aiming to connect with undecided voters as part of her campaign strategy that has largely avoided traditional media.
The livestreamed “Unite for America” event took place in Michigan on Thursday and featured a lineup of celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Chris Rock, Julia Roberts, and Meryl Streep, alongside everyday Americans affected by key electoral issues like abortion and gun control. Harris opened her discussion with Winfrey by framing her campaign as a movement for unity.
“In this moment, where we’ve faced so much divisiveness from powerful forces trying to pit us against each other, this movement reminds us that we have far more in common than what separates us,” Harris stated.
Winfrey praised Harris for “stepping into her power” and asked about the newfound confidence she seems to have gained since taking the lead on the ticket from President Joe Biden. “We all have moments in life when it’s time to step up,” Harris replied. “I felt a sense of responsibility, and with that comes a sense of purpose.”
Harris also outlined her commitments on pressing issues such as the economy, reproductive rights, and immigration, highlighting her plan to stimulate the economy by proposing a $50,000 tax deduction for start-up small businesses, an increase from the current $5,000 limit. “Nobody can start a small business with just $5,000,” she emphasized.
The former prosecutor also reached out to gun owners, traditionally a Republican-leaning demographic. “I’m a gun owner, and so is my running mate, Tim Walz,” she said. “If someone breaks into my house, they’re getting shot,” she joked, adding, “I probably shouldn’t have said that, but my staff will handle it later.”
Winfrey introduced several audience members who shared personal stories related to gun control and reproductive rights, including Hadley Duvall, a 22-year-old activist from Kentucky who became involved in abortion rights after becoming pregnant at age 12 due to abuse. “You can’t wait until it’s too late to care about reproductive healthcare,” Duvall stressed.
Since becoming the Democratic nominee, Harris has mostly avoided traditional media appearances, leading critics to accuse her of evading tough questions regarding her record and plans. Axios reported on Thursday that Harris and Walz are on track to conduct fewer interviews and press conferences than any other ticket in modern U.S. history. So far, they have participated in just seven engagements, compared to over 70 by former President Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance.
Recent opinion polls indicate a tight race between Harris and Trump for the upcoming election. A New York Times/Siena poll released on Thursday showed them tied at 47 percent, with Harris holding a slight four-point lead in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania.
