How the Harris campaign’s ‘new’ factor cuts both ways: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the online version of From the policy deskevening bulletin that brings you the latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill from the NBC News Politics team.

In today’s edition, national political reporter Ben Kamisar breaks down the latest NBC News Deciders Focus Group with Latino voters in battleground states. Reporter Dasha Burns has an exclusive interview with Donald Trump as he unveils his new TVF proposal. Top national political reporter Jonathan Allen has five top questions he’d like to see Kamala Harris answer.

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Skeptical Latino voters struggle with what they know of Harris versus what they’ve seen of Trump.

By Ben Kamisar

Democrats are riding a wave of enthusiasm with Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket. But a new focus group reveals the potential limits to how far this jolt of energy can take the party with the rest of the gullible electorate.

The latest edition of the NBC News Deciders Focus Group, produced in collaboration Busy, Syracuse University and Sagofeatured nine Hispanic voters, mostly from battleground states, who said they were unhappy with the nominees of both major parties. Conversations with these voters revealed Harris’ lack of familiarity.

That raises doubts about whether he meant what he said on the campaign trail, or whether the November election is a choice between, as one voter put it, the “devil we know” and the “devil we don’t” in former President Donald Trump. ” in Harris.

Still, the dynamic gives Harris a potential opening, some insiders noted, as a new voice in a race that has been shaping up over the course of a year, a rematch between two of the most recognizable politicians in recent American history.

“Better a known fool than a known fool,” said Maddie C., 52, of Macon, Georgia, who is backing Trump in 2020. “Sorry, I’m already over Trump. I think I can handle it for another four years. “He’s not going to kill the whole nation in four years, he doesn’t have that power, and I don’t know Harris well enough.”

But Andreas O. Harris, 47, of Durham, North Carolina, who is backing President Joe Biden in 2020, said of Harris: “At least he’s competent. I have no doubts about his ability to run the government.”

The focus group revealed that the Democrats’ decision to replace Biden with Harris fundamentally changed the debate over the party’s ticket. In every previous focus group of dubious or undecided voters, the universal concern about Biden’s age disappeared. But in those sessions, it was replaced by voters using words like “ghost” and “hiding” and “unknown” to describe Harris.

Cecilia G., 53, of Phoenix, who voted for Biden in 2020, said Harris’ skepticism compared to her familiarity with Trump influenced her vote. If forced to choose between the two major party candidates, he said he would support Trump. But given more options, he chose progressive activist Cornel West.

“I don’t know much about him, but I know what he’s been like under Trump. So I thought, Well, well, I’ve already dealt with a bad one, how bad can the liberal version of it be, Cecilia Q. said.

Read more from the latest NBC News Deciders Focus Group →

Trump says he wants to force the government or insurance companies to pay for IVF treatments

By Dasha Burns, Abigail Brooks and Alexandra Marquez

POTTERVILLE, Mich. – Former President Donald Trump said in an interview with NBC News on Thursday that his administration, if elected, would not only protect the possibility of in vitro fertilization, but also cover the costs of the expensive service for the government or insurance companies. American women in need.

“We’re going to be under the Trump administration, we’re going to pay for this treatment,” Trump said, “and we’re going to get the insurance company to pay for it.”

Asked to clarify whether the government would pay for IVF services or whether insurance companies would pay for it, Trump reiterated that one option would be for insurance companies to pay “under the mandate, yes.”

Reproductive rights have been a political liability for the GOP, as Democrats have warned that Republican restrictions on abortion could lead to restrictions on IVF. In the interview, Trump said “exceptions are very important to me” on abortion policy, adding later: “I believe in exceptions for the life of the mother … consanguinity, rape.”

Trump’s IVF proposal could also put him at odds with anti-abortion advocates, who oppose certain parts of the process that involve discarding unused embryos.

Read more from our interview with Trump →

5 key questions Harris needs to answer

By Jonathan Allen

Vice President Kamala Harris sat down with Governor Tim Walz tonight for her first extensive interview since becoming the Democratic nominee, airing on CNN. After months of turmoil in the presidential race, there is no end to the questions that could be asked of him. But here are five that might reveal how he plans to campaign and govern, and why the answers matter.

1. If you were in President Joe Biden’s job for the past three years, what would you do differently?

Harris has so far diverged little from Biden in terms of his platform and agenda, actually touting some of his proposals and matching his old positions from the 2020 election to his record. Voters need to know when he recommended courses of action that were rejected or when he thinks in retrospect he made mistakes. It would help the public to understand how the vice presidency developed his outlook as he sought to ascend.

2. If elected, what can you realistically do to restore abortion rights without a majority in the House and a supermajority in the Senate?

Democrats succeeded in turning the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe Wade and the implementation of state restrictions on abortion into electoral victories. But they did not articulate a systematic national plan to reverse the effects of the Dobbs ruling.

3. Is there a point at which supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia becomes too costly for America? If so, what is your indicator?

With Harris saying the cost of living is too high and proposing expensive policies to address the problem, many voters are tired of spending money on a war in Europe. Congress has so far approved $175 billion in aid to Ukraine. Harris, like Biden, strongly supports this funding. It is worth knowing if this is an open liability.

4. Your administration’s spending has contributed to inflation, which officials insist is “temporary.” Why should Americans trust you now that you know how to lower prices for consumers?

Whether they buy fast food or luxury cars, voters feel inflation. Along with the broader economy, it may be the main issue they face at the polls. Harris has proposed new spending to expand the child tax credit and help first-time homebuyers, which could ease some pain in the short term and create inflationary pressure in the long run. Harris needs to explain what changes will actually calm inflation.

5. Have you ever had concerns about Biden’s acrimony – before, during or after the debate with former President Donald Trump?

Harris often talked about his time as vice president when he got up close and personal with Biden. Many Americans were shocked by her appearance and performance during the June debates, which led to her decision to withdraw from re-election. Did he see something and not say anything?

In the hallway: During a clip of a CNN interview that aired this afternoon, Harris said he would appoint a Republican to his cabinet if elected. More →

That’s all for the Policy Desk for now. If you have feedback – like it or not – send us an email politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com

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