Vice President Kamala Harris fielded questions from Latino voters Thursday at a town hall in Nevada, where she was asked to detail her proposals on immigration, the economy and more.
Harris faced about a dozen questions during the hour-long event hosted by Univision as she sought to win support from this key demographic with 26 days left until Election Day. The Democratic candidate pointed to his record as vice president and blasted his opponent, Republican former President Donald Trump, but downplayed the details of his plans for the country.
The main points are:
Voters in key battleground states show Trump ahead of Harris on this top issue: poll
Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris walks to Yvette Castillo, a Latino voter who recently lost her mother, at Univision City Hall on Thursday, October 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Harris pushes back against Trump's attack on hurricane response
In the first question of the night, a Tampa voter asked Harris about rumors that the Biden-Harris administration wasn't doing enough to respond to Hurricanes Helen and Milton. Former President Donald Trump, a Republican candidate, came under heavy criticism for the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, claiming at a recent rally that President Biden's response to the storm was “the worst hurricane response since Katrina.” This fueled the rumors by citing
Harris defended the Biden administration, accusing critics of “political gamesmanship” and calling claims that the response was inadequate “not accurate.” She said she is working with people on the ground in Georgia, North Carolina, Florida and other Southeastern states to get Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resources to people in need.
“The other thing I've been working on, and it's based on my years of experience as California's attorney general, is telling businesses and companies to raise prices in times of crisis and emergencies,” Harris said. “I have seen these individuals and families in moments of desperation before, whether we are monitoring them and are able to temporarily shelter in a hotel to pay for gas or a flight. We're watching to see if they're jacking up prices to see if there are any significant consequences, and that's what I'm going to do going forward.”
Trump slams hurricane response as 'worst since Katrina', Biden says Trump's 'false attacks' must 'stop'
Las Vegas, Nevada: Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris answers questions from Latino voters at Univision City Hall on Thursday, October 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images) (Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Harris won't discuss how she differs from Biden on immigration.
Voters specifically asked Harris about her plan on immigration and how her policies differ from President Biden's.
In her response, Harris pointed to her recent trip to the Arizona border and her law enforcement career as a prosecutor and California attorney general, showing she was serious about border security.
“I'm going to be second to none in what I've done, and that's always to ensure we have a secure border,” she said.
Harris also criticized President Trump for leading Republican opposition to the bipartisan border security agreement approved by the National Border Security Council in February. She claimed the bill would send 1,500 additional Border Patrol agents to the border and provide law enforcement resources to combat fentanyl trafficking.
Republicans say the border bill gives too many benefits to undocumented immigrants, such as work permits and taxpayer-funded lawyers, and would provide funding to sanctuary city jurisdictions that won't cooperate with immigration enforcement. claims.
Harris said there is a “false choice” between secure borders and humane immigration policies. But he did not explain how his policies differ from Biden, who also supports border legislation.
Democratic strategists worry Harris' 'sugar high' is over: 'If you're not nervous, you're not paying attention'
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign event on Thursday, October 10, at the Gila River Indian Community Reservation in Chandler, Arizona. (AP/Ross D. Franklin)
Emotional moment when a woman asks about health care
The emotional moment came when Yvette Castillo, a Las Vegas woman, told Harris she recently lost her mother before her immigration status was legalized.
“She didn't get the kind of care and services that she needed or deserved,” Castillo said, fighting back tears. She asked how Harris would support illegal immigrants who “have to live in the shadows and die in the shadows.”
Another voter, Francisco Medina of San Diego, Calif., told the vice president that even though he has insurance through the Department of Defense, he still has to cross the border into Mexico to receive treatment. Ta. He asked her how she planned to improve the health care system.
“I strongly and deeply believe that health care is a right, and that it should be a right, not just a privilege for those who can afford it or have easy access to it,” Harris said. said.
She pointed to strengthening the Affordable Care Act and putting a cap on prescription drug prices as a starting point for what the Biden administration will do as president.
“The work we've done has been to limit the cost of prescription drugs for seniors to $2,000,” she said. “My intention as president of the United States is to make it available to everyone, not just seniors.”
Trump-leaning voters confront Harris by leaving Biden behind
At one point during the town hall, a self-identified independent voter said she was leaning toward voting for Trump because Harris failed to win the Democratic nomination in the normal primary process.
“I'm a little confused,” said Mario Sigbaum, who lives in Santa Monica, California. “I was really intrigued by the idea of becoming a candidate without going through the normal process of primaries and caucuses,” he said of how Biden was “totally beleaguered.” requested an explanation.
Mr Harris thanked him for being “candid”. He said Biden's decision to withdraw from the race amid mounting pressure from Democrats was “one of the bravest decisions of his presidency” and that he “put the country above personal gain.” .
“He made that decision and within the same period of time supported my candidacy and encouraged me to run,” Harris said. “He and I have been partners in the presidential race for the past four years, as vice president, and I am honored to have won the Democratic nomination.”
He went on to say there is a “huge contrast” in this election, arguing that Trump will be a “dictator from day one” and that there is “precedent precedent” for having “support for democracy” on the ballot. He said the situation was “no”.
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Harris can't say more than three good things about President Trump.
In the closing moments of the town hall, a voter asked Harris if she could name three strengths of her Republican opponent. She couldn't do that.
“I think Donald Trump loves his family, and I think that's very important,” she said. “But to be honest, I don't know him very well. I only met him once at a debate. We had never met before.”
Harris looked for two other strengths and fell short. Instead, she criticized President Trump for taking an “us versus them” approach and using divisive language.
“I don't think that's healthy for our country, and I don't admire it.”
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