Pollster Frank Luntz ‘Not Impressed’ With VP Harris
Prominent pollster Frank Luntz believes that Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, made significant errors in her CNN interview.
The interview was anticipated as a pivotal moment, marking her first as the official presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. However, Luntz expressed disappointment in her performance.
"As an observer, I was expecting more from her, given the amount of time she had to prepare," Luntz commented before outlining a series of mistakes he believes Harris committed.
"First, I refer to it as DOD, which stands for Day One Detail. She mentioned child tax credits and a housing credit, but she should have outlined a clear plan for day one, including the first hour, day, week, month, and year," Luntz explained. "Voters want to see that you're serious, and she didn’t go beyond her talking points."
When CNN anchor Dana Bash asked what Harris would prioritize on her first day as president, her response was to "strengthen the middle class," without providing specific details on how she would accomplish this.
"Second, it’s not just about inflation; it’s about affordability. Food, fuel, housing, and health care costs have skyrocketed. While she acknowledged this, she didn’t offer any solutions," Luntz noted. "Third, she repeatedly emphasized, 'My values haven’t changed.' This seemed to address accusations of flip-flopping, but it’s not about values—it's about priorities, which concern everyone."
Luntz continued, "Number four, 'You deserve.' She spoke as though it was still a convention speech, without detailing what Americans deserve from their president or her policies. Number five, the C word—she mentioned consensus and common ground. But what voters are really seeking is common sense, not just ideology. They want a leader who can deliver tangible results."
"Sixth, in her criticism of Trump, she should have said, 'He promised, he failed, and it’s time to give someone else a chance to do better.' Comparing Trump’s record to hers would have been more effective than merely taking shots at him," he advised. "And number seven, she could have asked, 'How would you feel if your kids spoke to you the way Donald Trump speaks to America?' That’s her strongest critique of Trump, and it was missing."
Luntz wasn’t alone in his critique of the interview.
Former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich also saw flaws in Harris' performance, suggesting it could harm her campaign.
In an interview with Fox Business Network’s "Mornings With Maria," guest host Cheryl Casone discussed the interview with Gingrich, who predicted that Harris would "lose the election" because of it.
Gingrich commented, "I thought President Trump’s remarks were harsh, but I believe he should invite Kamala Harris to have Governor Walz accompany her at the presidential debate, like a comfort blanket. Walz could stand beside her, unable to speak, but it might make her feel more at ease. My true impression was that she revealed just how liberal she truly is."
Gingrich continued, "Walz essentially showed us he’s a liar, unable to even admit to Dana Bash that he falsely claimed combat service. When questioned, he dodged with a lot of nonsense instead of simply saying, 'Yes, what I said was wrong.' That’s typical of Walz as a person. As for Harris, her big claim was that she aggressively took on international gangs as California's attorney general. But if that’s true, why is there a Venezuelan gang terrorizing Aurora, Colorado?"
He added, "Under her leadership as the border czar, we now have millions of illegal immigrants and gangs from El Salvador, Mexico, and Venezuela. It doesn’t add up, and for that reason, I believe last night’s interview showed us that Kamala Harris is on track to lose the election."