On Aug. 29, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz sat down for a joint interview with CNN, marking Harris’ first appearance on a major media network since announcing her candidacy. This interview signaled a pivotal moment in her campaign, offering voters —and traders — a closer look at her platform and partnership with Walz
Harris’ PredictIt price rose from 54 cents on the day of the interview to 55 cents the day after. The price of her victory on Manifold was 52 cents on the day of the interview and has hovered around the mid to low-50s in the week since. Her victory’s price on Polymarket dipped from 48 cents to 46 cents in the week after her CNN interview
The interview drew some details about policies she’d push president. Harris highlighted the Biden administration’s success in lowering insulin costs for seniors. She said she would sign the bipartisan border agreement that fell apart in early 2024. Additionally, she affirmed her support of Israel’s right to defend itself and expressed support for a two-state solution.
However, the most interesting part of the interview was near the beginning when CNN’s Dana Bash confronted Harris about a key policy reversal from her 2020 campaign.
Harris Changes Her Mind on Fracking
Bash asked Harris about her reversal on a federal fracking ban. In a 2019 town hall, Harris said that she favored a federal ban on fracking, only to later oppose a ban in the 2020 Democratic primary debates.
Her current position is that she can grow the green energy industry without banning fracking altogether. Harris fell back on her “values” to explain how voters could trust the consistency of her policy.
Harris’ stance on fracking represents a shift toward the political center. While environmentalists advocate for a complete ban on fracking due to its harmful impact on local communities and the environment, natural gas remains one of the most affordable energy sources. The United States’ vast natural gas reserves make it a major global energy exporter, contributing to the country’s energy independence. Harris’ position reflects an effort to balance environmental concerns with economic and energy security interests
Anyone interested in Harris’ debate performance and her upcoming speeches should expect more centrist moves like this. She’s not abandoning a liberal economic policy, but she is showing that she’s willing to disagree with the left-most members of her party.
