Several prominent Never Trumper commentators have argued that Harris needs to reach out to the moderate right in order to win the election. If Trump is the threat to liberal democracy that she (correctly) insists that he is, the circumstances demand no less, according to them. Is she doing it?
Yes, and offering to put a Republican in the cabinet is the least of it. As The Economist has pointed out, her position on immigration is now fairly consistent with Trump’s in 2016 (but not today). She talks tough on crime, notes that she owns a gun, and makes no effort to focus on identity politics, instead letting her status as a black/Asian female speak for itself. Her stance on Ukraine and Gaza is broadly consistent with that of the moderate right. Her positions on tax increases for the wealthy are more restrained than Biden’s. She says very little about climate change. On the whole, there is very little here for PBPs to criticize.
The one exception is abortion, where she knows her position has strong public support. It would be foolhardy for her to accept some sort of compromise proposal on that issue.
Will the united front depress progressives and cause them to stay home? Thus far, the answer appears to be no; the candidacy of a vibrant young minority female has been enough to inspire the base without many concessions on policy. Let’s hope we see the fruits of their optimism on Election Day.