Harris says she’s different from Biden because ‘I offer a new generation of leaders’

WASHINGTON – Vice President Kamala Harris, who is billing herself as the candidate of change as she runs against Republican Donald Trump, said Friday that she is different from President Joe Biden because she offers “a new generation of leadership.”

In her first solo television interview since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris also criticized “the hatred and division that we see coming from Donald Trump” and said she thought people were “exhausted” with his leadership style.

She also said she owns a gun and does not want to confiscate anyone’s guns, but believes an assault weapons ban is necessary and consistent with the Second Amendment.

Anchor Brian Taff of WPVI-TV in Philadelphia asked Harris to describe one or two ways she differs from the president.

“Well, I’m obviously not Joe Biden,” and “I’m offering a new generation of leadership,” Harris said, adding that things once taken for granted can no longer be overlooked.

“For example, another one of my projects, which is a new approach, is to expand the child tax credit to $6,000 for young families in the first year of their child’s life, because that’s obviously a very critical stage in a child’s development. So my approach is based on new ideas and new policies that are relevant to the moment,” she said. “And also, to be very honest with you, I’m very focused on what we need to do in the next 10 to 20 years to catch up with the 21st century, in terms of capabilities but also in terms of challenges.”

The interview was conducted in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, while Harris was campaigning there on Friday.

Trump, his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, and other Republicans have criticized Harris for avoiding media interviews or speaking openly with reporters covering her campaign. Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, gave a joint interview to CNN last month. Her campaign recently said it would begin doing more local interviews, and the National Association of Black Journalists announced Friday that some of its members would interview Harris in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Harris used a question about the former president’s appeal and how she would speak to his supporters to criticize Trump and his leadership style.

“I also think I’m right that most Americans want a leader who brings us together as Americans, not someone who pretends to be a leader and tries to make us point fingers at each other,” she said.

The vice president suggested that her support from Republican officials, including former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney, was a result of people being “exhausted” with Trump.

“I think people are more willing now, in light of the hatred and the division that we see coming from Donald Trump, to say, ‘Hey, let’s put country first,’ and I think that just makes us stronger and healthier as a country,” she said.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

The 59-year-old vice president is a former San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general and U.S. senator. She offered a few answers when asked to share one thing she would like people to know about her that they don’t already know.

“It’s probably not much different than what I’m seeing right now,” she said. “I love my family. One of my favorite things to do, which I haven’t been able to do lately, is Sunday family dinner. I love to cook.”

Harris also said that her best friend from kindergarten “is still my best friend.”