The big question Harris has yet to answer: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the online version ofFrom the Politics Deskan evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill.

In today’s edition, “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker looks at the big question Vice President Kamala Harris will seek to answer at the Democratic National Convention next week. Plus, national politics reporter Bridget Bowman explores how the race for control of the House has changed with Harris at the top of the ticket.

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The big question Harris still hasn’t answered: What’s her vision for the country?

By Kristen Welker

Kamala Harris ran for president in 2020. She’s the current vice president of the United States. And she’s set to accept the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination next week.

And yet, there are still major questions about her vision for the future of the country. What is her goal beyond defeating Donald Trump?

That is a part of the backdrop as Harris prepares for her address at the Democratic National Convention, which is now just days away.

Among the questions voters may want her to answer when they hear from her next Thursday:

• Would her presidency be a continuation of President Joe Biden’s policies and programs?
• Where does she disagree with Biden?
• Where do her allegiances lie in the Democrats’ progressive-vs.-establishment fight?
• What would be her top priority if Democrats win full control of Congress?
• Where would she compromise with Republicans?
• How would she wield power?
• And how does she handle defeat and victory? (Unlike past modern presidential nominees, she’s never won a presidential primary or caucus.)

Nearly four weeks into her ascent to the top of the Democratic ticket, we don’t have an answer to any of those questions.

Yes, she’s outlined her position on the Israel-Hamas war (she’s committed to Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, but will speak up about Palestinian suffering). Yes, she’d sign that bipartisan border deal into law. And, yes, she announced economic proposals during a speech in North Carolina today like a federal ban on corporate price-gouging in the food and grocery industries and a $6,000 child tax credit.

But on those big questions — that “vision thing” that former President George H.W. Bush talked about — we still don’t have an answer.

There’s nothing equivalent yet from Harris like Barack Obama’s “hope” and “change,” or Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again.”

What’s Harris’ bumper-sticker-sized vision for the country? (The campaign did debut “A New Way Forward” message on Friday.) That’s her challenge heading into next week and what will be the biggest speech of her political career so far.

NBC News’ Sahil Kapur has more from Harris’ speech today, where she outlined her plans to tackle food, housing, medicine and child care costs.

‘A roller coaster’: Harris’ sudden rise resets a tight battle for the House

By Bridget Bowman

Harris’ ascension to the top of the ticket has reset the battle for the House, with Democrats feeling hopeful they can ride a new wave of energy to the majority and Republicans tempering their dreams of dramatically expanding the playing field.

Biden’s exit from the presidential race, both parties are bracing for an even tougher fight centered on a small group of competitive districts, as Democrats need to net just four seats to take control of the House.

The president had been struggling in key battlegrounds even before his disastrous June debate performance, and he recently acknowledged to CBS News that his potential down-ballot drag contributed to his decision to drop out.

That drag had given some House Republicans confidence that they would not only hang on to their narrow majority, but push deeper into Democratic territory this fall.

Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said at a Politico event at the Republican National Convention last month that the party was eyeing districts Biden won by double digits in 2020, noting, “I think we can expand the map.”

Now, Hudson told NBC News in an interview this week, “I do think we’re in a different reality where the environment has tightened some,” acknowledging internal polling has shown the Democratic base consolidating around Harris.

Hudson, who described this election cycle as “a roller coaster,” was still confident that Republicans will keep their majority and pick up seats. He argued that voters will pin concerns about the cost of living and immigration on the Biden administration, and that Harris’ past liberal positions will turn off swing voters.

Among Democrats, however, there is palpable optimism among candidates and strategists about winning back House control. It’s a marked shift from just a few weeks ago, when vulnerable party lawmakers were dodging reporters at the Capitol to avoid questions about Biden.

When Biden was in the race, Democrats still saw a path to the majority, noting that their candidates often performed better than him in the polls. But now, there is less pressure to outrun the top of the ticket with a more popular presidential nominee.

“We were in a strong position,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairwoman Suzan DelBene of Washington told NBC News this week. “We’re in a stronger position now.”

Read more from Bridget →

That’s all from the Politics Desk for now. If you have feedback — likes or dislikes — email us at [email protected]

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