Kamala Harris: "I'm Not Angry with the Rich, But They Must Pay Their Fair Share"

For her second interview in front of television cameras, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris chose a friendly presenter who asked predictable questions and even joined her in attacking her rival, Donald Trump. She did it in a city that could decide the election, Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), where she had just defined herself as a "capitalist" who believes "in free and fair markets."

It was her second major economic speech, aimed at calming the concerns of the middle class she promises to champion. About 28% of Americans say in polls that they want to know more about the Vice President and her government plans. The figure did not change after the debate with Trump, also held in Pennsylvania, nor does it seem likely to change after the interview aired last night by MSNBC. Caution seems to be Harris's characteristic as a candidate, who navigates at a good pace and does not want to risk a misstep. Thanks to this, her popularity has risen 16 points since she inherited Joe Biden's candidacy in July, according to an NBC poll, and she has reduced Trump's lead on the most important issue, the economy, from 12 to 9 points. In other polls, she even surpasses him.

While he labels her a "radical Marxist" for wanting to control speculation on basic goods, she assures that the magnate's tariff wars will trigger inflation, which has dropped to 2.5% this year. The tariffs Trump threatens to impose on Chinese products and cars manufactured in Mexico will be directly passed on to consumers, she anticipates. Rather than explaining her plan, which is sparse in details, Harris tries to dismantle those of her rival, someone who confessed during the debate that he only has "conceptual ideas" about what he will do with healthcare once he eliminates Obama's healthcare reform.

"I am going to make the economy work for the middle class," Harris promised yesterday. "Trump wants it to work for the millionaires who build skyscrapers, not for the workers who lay the cement, pull the cables or clean the floors," she said before the Economic Club of Pittsburgh. "I'm not angry with anyone for being rich, but they should pay their fair share," she clarified later during the interview.

The candidate, who declares herself a friend of unions and the middle class, wants to raise corporate taxes from the current 21% to 28%, with which to fund her "opportunity" programs so that the middle class can get ahead because "not everyone is born with a silver spoon," she said in reference to Trump's inherited fortune from his father. Tax deductions of $6,000 per child for couples in their first year of having children, $25,000 for their first home and one hundred billion dollars over a decade for local manufacturing industries like steel in Pittsburgh.

None of these amounts will resolve the complaints of those who can't make it to the end of the month, but the Vice President assures she has them in mind. "We can't settle for reaching full employment; we should take that for granted. Let's create an economy where anyone can buy a house, start a business or take a good vacation once in a while," she proposed.

The economy is Americans' main concern when voting in these elections, above immigration, healthcare or abortion. Even so, Harris couldn't answer why voters still trust Trump more on this key issue or how she would push these plans forward if her party loses the Senate—a growing possibility despite her campaign's good progress.