Kamala Harris steers clear of race, gender despite historic bid
Kamala Harris is aiming to make history as America's first Black and South Asian woman president — but she has not leaned into the prospect.
Instead, Harris has steered well clear of mentioning race and gender during speeches, rallies and the first press conference of her lightning campaign.
The 59-year-old Democrat has also refused to engage with Republican rival Donald Trump and his allies when they have tried to bait her by questioning her racial identity and making sexist attacks.
Rather, Harris seems to be focusing on the broader excitement over her replacing President Joe Biden as candidate, and on issues like the cost of living that she believes voters care more about.
Her reluctance to rely on her trailblazing status as a selling point was on full display when she and her running mate Tim Walz gave their first interview to CNN on Thursday.
Harris was asked about a photo circulating of her grand-niece watching her Democratic National Convention speech in Chicago, which went viral as a symbol of the breaking of racial and gender barriers in America.
But Harris was not biting.
«I am running because I believe that I am the best person to do this job at this moment for all Americans, regardless of race and gender,» Harris told CNN.
Harris was equally dismissive when asked about Trump's inflammatory accusation that she leaned into her Black identity for political gain. «Same old, tired playbook. Next question, please,» she said with a laugh.
'Precious time'
One reason for her approach is that Trump's
