Four takeaways from Kamala Harris's NBC interview

In a recent interview with NBC News, Vice President Kamala Harris discussed several significant topics regarding the upcoming presidential election. She expressed that she and her team are well-prepared in case her opponent, Donald Trump, declares victory before all the votes are counted. The interview, which took place at the US Naval Observatory, aired on Tuesday evening. During the conversation, Harris addressed questions about President Joe Biden's performance in debates, the possibility of pardoning Trump if she becomes president, and the importance of her candidacy as a woman. Here are some key takeaways from the interview: One of the first points raised by Hallie Jackson, the interviewer, was about Biden's debate performance. She asked Harris if she had been truthful about Biden when she endorsed his re-election. Harris acknowledged that the debate was not a good one, stating, 'It was a bad debate. People have bad debates. ' She referred to the debate that occurred between Trump and Biden in June. Jackson then pointed out that Biden's poor performance in that debate is the reason Harris is now the Democratic nominee. In response, Harris said, 'You'd have to ask him if that's the only reason why he stood down. ' She emphasized that she is running for president and that her leadership will focus on bringing a new generation to America. Harris also defended Biden's political achievements, saying, 'I speak with not only sincerity, but with a real, first-hand account of watching him do this work. ' Another crucial topic discussed was what Harris would do if Trump claims victory before all votes are counted. She stated, 'We will deal with election night and the days after as they come, and we have the resources and the expertise and the focus on that as well. ' Harris recalled how, after the 2020 election, Trump falsely declared himself the winner while votes were still being counted, leading to confusion and uncertainty. She highlighted that Trump has attempted to undermine a fair election and continues to deny the will of the people. Harris described this situation as a serious matter that needs to be addressed. When asked if she would consider pardoning Trump if she becomes president, Harris replied, 'I'm not going to get into those hypotheticals. I'm focused on the next 14 days. ' She added that unifying the country would come from her election as president. Harris was also questioned about whether the United States is ready for a woman of color to be president. Without hesitation, she affirmed, 'Absolutely. ' She believes that this election is not just about turning the page but also about closing a chapter that suggests Americans are divided. Jackson pressed Harris on why she has been hesitant to emphasize the historic nature of her candidacy. Harris responded, 'I'm clearly a woman. the point that most people really care about is, can you do the job and do you have a plan to actually focus on them. ' She expressed that she does not view her candidacy through the lens of sexism. Instead, her challenge is to connect with as many voters as possible. Harris concluded by stating, 'I will never assume that anyone in our country should elect a leader based on their gender or their race, instead that that leader needs to earn the vote based on substance and what they will do to address challenges. ' She also discussed her agenda, which focuses on reproductive rights and access to abortion.