This week, we break down Kamala Harris’ bold Fox News interview and what it means for her campaign. Is she making the right moves to sway Republicans? Plus, early voting kicks off in key states like Georgia—could high turnout tip the scales? With just 17 days until the election, we’re diving into the polls, predictions and what to watch for. Buckle up, it’s getting close.
TRANSCRIPT
Adam (00:00):
Welcome back to “Simplifying the State.” I’m Adam Watson. On today’s episode, we’re diving into Kamala Harris’ Fox News interview—she’s stepping into the lion’s den! Plus, early voting has kicked off in Georgia and North Carolina, and we’ll break down where the polls stand 18 days out from the election. That’s right, the bedwetting has begun, people.
Nicholas (00:03):
I’m Nicholas Perrin.
Adam (00:30):
Let’s start with Harris’ recent interview on Fox News. She covered a lot of ground, speaking with Bret Baier. The conversation seemed aimed at women voters, particularly suburban, college-educated white women—a key demographic both parties are fighting to win. She clarified her stance on immigration and border security and created some distance between herself and President Biden. Nicholas, what are the potential political ramifications of that interview?
Nicholas (01:28):
I think a lot of Republican women, whether former or current, might feel some sympathy—or even empathy—toward Harris after that interview. She was interrupted quite a bit, and I imagine many women could relate to that. It could make them feel a personal connection to her, which might show up in the election results or even the polls.
Adam (02:11):
Yeah, polls are a different story, but we’ll touch on that later. I don’t know if there’s much ground left to gain for either candidate, but this is definitely shaping up to be a close election. Harris is clearly trying to reach out to more center-leaning Republicans, especially Nikki Haley supporters. For example, if she can sway just a fraction of the 30,000 Republicans who voted for Haley in Wisconsin, it could swing the election if it’s that close. She’s also trying to distinguish herself from Biden by saying, “My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency.” So, Nicholas, if you were advising the Harris campaign, would you suggest she keep distancing herself from Biden or stay closer on key issues like immigration and inflation?
Nicholas (03:47):
Well, it depends. On immigration, Harris has positioned herself as more bipartisan compared to Trump, who’s been more about shutting the door. But on inflation, distancing herself could be smart. A lot of people blame Biden for inflation, and since his approval ratings aren’t great, Harris might want to put some space between them, though not too much.
Adam (04:50):
Right. The economy boils down to two things: how it’s actually performing, and how people feel about it. You can’t tell people the economy’s fine when they’re struggling with high prices, even if unemployment is low and job creation is strong. If I were Harris, I’d focus on lowering costs while acknowledging that prices are still high, which is what people care about most—groceries, gas, everyday expenses. She could battle Trump to a tie on the economy by focusing on that.
Adam (05:40):
Moving on, early voting has started in several states. It’s like Black Friday, but instead of a TV, you’re trying to score a functioning democracy. In Georgia alone, 328,000 ballots were cast on the first day. Nicholas, do you think this early voting surge could impact who wins the state?
Nicholas (07:00):
Early voting doesn’t change people’s minds, but it gives us a glimpse into where things are heading. Democrats tend to vote early more than Republicans, so these numbers favor them. But come November, it’ll balance out. The real question is how much of an impact these early votes will have on election day.
Adam (07:49):
Yeah, early voting does tend to favor Democrats. But it doesn’t guarantee anything about the final outcome, especially in a state like Georgia, which Biden only won by a small margin in 2020.
Adam (08:03):
Now, let’s talk about the polls. We’re about 18 days out, and according to “270toWin,” Harris is ahead by 2.2% nationally, but in key Sun Belt states like Georgia, Arizona and North Carolina, Trump holds a small lead. The Blue Wall states are also very tight. It’s been a close race all along, and with so little time left, I don’t think the needle’s going to move much. What do you think?
Nicholas (10:35):
I agree. People’s minds don’t tend to change much this close to an election. The polls we’re seeing now will probably be close to what we’ll see on election day.
Adam (11:01):
Yeah, undecided voters are few and far between. Most people who haven’t made up their minds will wait until the last minute, deciding based on the headlines in the final week. We’re not likely to see major changes in the polling between now and November because, I mean, polls are basically political horoscopes. They might say one thing, but you know you’re just gonna ignore it, hope for the best.
Adam (11:10):
Alright, that’s all for this episode of “Simplifying the State.” Thanks for tuning in, and we’ll catch you next week with more updates as we count down to the election.
