Vice President Kamala Harris told Telemundo on Tuesday that she is a “pragmatic capitalist” who wants to support Latino entrepreneurs, defying former President Donald Trump’s attempts to paint her as a Marxist.
“I am a capitalist. I’m a pragmatic capitalist,” Harris said in an interview at the vice president’s official residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington. “I believe we need a new generation of leadership in America that actively works with the private sector to build America’s new industries, create small business owners and allow us to increase home ownership.”
Republicans have spent years trying to woo Hispanic voters, many of whom fled repressive countries or are descended from people who did. Democrats are secret socialists or communists.
Trump frequently refers to Harris as “Comrade Kamala” and a “Marxist” in rally speeches and fundraising emails, and he fake image a speech by a social media lookalike to Harris at a communist event.
Julio Vaqueiro, anchor of the Spanish-language network Telemundo, which shares a parent company with NBC News, asked how Harris defined himself ideologically in the face of such attacks.
Harris also appealed directly to the wallets of Latino men.
“I’m very aware of how this is going to affect Latino men,” he said economic agenda. “I know that Latin American men often have a hard time getting big loans from big banks because of relationships, things that aren’t based on their qualifications. So I’m focusing on what we can do to bring more capital to community banks that understand the community and can make these kinds of loans.
Men, and especially young people of color, have become one of the most hotly contested demographic groups this election because Trump is making unexpected moves with the Democratic-leaning group.
Harris also highlighted a plan to offer $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, which he said would benefit all Americans, “I’m also aware of the particular impact on the Latino community,” he said.
With the Nov. 5 election just two weeks away, polls show an extremely close race, with Harris and Trump well within range in battleground states and national polls.