Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), chair of the House Democratic Campaign Committee, continues to distance herself and vulnerable Democrats from Vice President Kamala Harris.
In a six-minute interview with Bloomberg Balance of power On Monday, DelBene Asked DelBene mentioned Harris in four of the five questions he asked, never using her name or the pronouns “she” or “her” when referring to the vice president.
For example, when asked how Harris would address inflation as voters associate it with her and President Joe Biden’s administration, DelBene deflected the answer and refused to mention the vice president.
“What are you listening to? [people on the ground] “What would you say to them on this issue, especially on inflation and the negative image they’ve had of the Democrats over the last few years through the Biden administration,” Bloomberg host Jon Mathews asked. “What would you say to them? What do you think Kamala Harris would change?”
“Well, we’re talking about how important it is to continue to build a strong economy that works for families. We’re talking about important issues, food on the table issues, costs. People care about affordability,” she responded in part.
CHECK: Suzan DelBene again did not mention Border Patrol Chief Kamala Harris.
Instead, I answer with word salad. https://t.co/8r676n1V3E pic.twitter.com/Yu1nm7uA2b
— NRCC (@NRCC) July 30, 2024
DelBene’s apparent attempt to avoid any possible association with Harris in Tuesday’s interview followed a similar tactic she used in a conversation last week with CNN’s chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju, in which she also refused to mention Harris by name.
According to a clip shared by CNN’s X, Raju asked her on Thursday whether “it’s a good idea for vulnerable Democrats to align themselves with Kamala Harris.” Inside politics On Sunday, she played down the idea, saying the race would be “hometown.”
NEW: Will VP Harris hurt or help House Democrats in competitive election? Follow I spoke to the chairman of the DCCC. translator NRCC Chairman Rich Hudson What are your thoughts for November? #InsidePolitics pic.twitter.com/YvvPE3utEY
— Inside Politics (@InsidePolitics) July 28, 2024
“All our elections are local elections. It’s about our candidates and the caliber of candidates,” she said.
“Don’t you think this will be nationalised?” Raju continued.
“I think in congressional elections, it’s going to be about each district, who the candidates are and how they stand up for their community,” DelBene responded.
Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House Republican equivalent of the DCCC, has gone on the offensive, adding 26 people to its “Young Guns” program, which mentors and helps Republican candidates win elections, as Harris’ record troubles lower-ranking House Democrats.
“Kamala Harris allows the Republican campaign to speak to voters with surgical precision about how her dangerous San Francisco liberal policies will make their lives worse,” NRCC spokesman Will Reinert told Breitbart News last week.
“Harris’ 2019 presidential primary campaign is a Republican ad maker’s dream but a battleground Democrat’s nightmare,” he added.
