Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign finally added an ‘issues’ page to her presidential campaign website – 50 days after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and just in time for her pivotal debate with Donald Trump.
The 59-year-old Democratic presidential nominee had been unveiling components of her agenda in some policy speeches and campaign announcements, but has faced criticism for not providing an in-depth platform and for only giving one major interview.
The new page titled ‘A New Way Forward’ includes four sections ‘Build an Opportunity Economy and Lower Costs for Families,’ ‘Safeguard our Fundamental Freedoms,’ ‘Ensure Safety and Justice for All,’ and ‘Keep America Safe, Secure, and Prosperous.’
Each section includes a series of stances and proposals. The page also emphasizes how Harris contrasts with Trump as her campaign tries to tie him to the far-right conservative Project 2025 agenda.
The website does not address some of her past progressive stances, which she has backed away from since her failed 2020 presidential bid with several notable flip-flops.
Kamala Harris campaigning in New Hampshire on September 4. Her website now includes an ‘Issues’ page with four sections focused on policy
‘Vice President Harris and Governor Walz are fighting for a New Way Forward that protects our fundamental freedoms, strengthens our democracy, and ensures every person has the opportunity to not just get by, but to get ahead,’ the website reads.
It touts the vice president as a former prosecutor and Attorney General, using language similar to what Harris has said on the stump.
The section focused on the economy and lowering costs for families is the most lengthy so far.
In it, the campaign highlights Harris growing up with a single working mom and breaks down her ‘Opportunity Economy,’ vowing that as president, Harris will cut taxes for ‘100 million working and middle class Americans while lowering costs for everyday needs.’
It highlights her proposal to expand the Child Tax Credit and promise not to raise taxes on those making less than $400,000 a year.
It states she and running mate Tim Walz will ‘ensure the wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations pay their fair share, so we can take action to build up the middle class while reducing the deficit.’
It calls for ‘rolling back Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, enacting a billionaire minimum tax, quadrupling the tax on stock buybacks, and other reforms to ensure the very wealthy are playing by the same rules as the middle class.’
It also touts her plan to give $25,000 down payments to first-time homebuyers and expand tax relief for small businesses.
Many of the proposals outlined were first released in policy addresses in North Carolina and then New Hampshire in recent weeks. The page also focuses on efforts to expand caps drug prices and out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions and cancel medical debt.
There’s a short section about Social Security and Medicare, that reads she will ‘strengthen’ both ‘for the long haul by making millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share.’
She also claims she will fight to lower care costs seniors and children.
But it does not go into detail aside from mention of the American Rescue Plan, where some of those steps have already been put in place.
The website also says she would work to tackle the climate crisis and touts the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act during the Biden administration.
It also states she is ‘committed to continuing and building upon the United States’ international climate leadership.’
Vice President Harris and husband Doug Emhoff taking a walk in Pennsylvania where Harris has been staying as she preps for the debate
In the section on protecting fundamental freedoms, the campaign highlights restoring reproductive freedoms and protecting civil rights, two priorities that the vice president has worked on the Biden administration and pursued on the campaign trail.
Harris frequently slams the overturning of landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade. Her website vows the vice president will never allow for a national abortion ban and will sign legislation restoring protections in Roe when Congress can pass a bill.
Democratic lawmakers have made several efforts to do this since Roe fell but have failed due to their lack of necessary votes in Congress.
When it comes to security and justice, the website notes Harris’ time as a prosecutor and California’s Attorney General. It claims she is fighting to keep communities safe, secure the border and fix the immigration system.
The vice president has been vulnerable to attacks from Republicans when it comes to the border as critics have attempted to brand her as the Biden administration’s ‘border czar.’
Harris has attempted to turn the issue back on Republicans and Trump for tanking a bipartisan border deal.
The website showcases Harris’ support for the bipartisan border deal and slams Trump, similar to what the vice president has done on the campaign trail. It claims she and Biden took action after the deal was killed, but it does not address her work to address the root causes of migration as vice president.
Harris has vowed to bring back the bipartisan deal as president and sign it. Her website also claims the vice president knows the immigration system is ‘broken’ and calls for comprehensive reforms including security and an ‘earned pathway to citizenship.’
On the opioid crisis, the vice president notes the bipartisan border deal she wants to pass includes money for detection technology.
When it comes to gun policy, the website also states Harris would ban an assault weapons and require universal background checks among other things.
Vice President Kamala Harris campaigning with President Biden on Labor Day. Her website’s policy page is up 50 days after Biden exited the presidential race
On foreign policy, the website touts Harris’ work as vice president meeting with more than 150 world leaders across the globe including Chinese President Xi Jinping.
It specifically also highlights focus on North Korea, Iran, Russia and her meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
‘Vice President Harris will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself and she will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself,’ the website reads.
‘She and President Biden are working to end the war in Gaza, such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination. She and President Biden are working around the clock to get a hostage deal and a ceasefire deal done,’ it continues.
