The 23 Words Harris Needs to Say to Win

NYT OPINION: The 23 Words Harris Needs to Say to Win
By Thomas L. Friedman
Section: Opinion
Source: New York Times
Published Date: September 9, 2024 at 03:00AM

It’s OK to admit that reality has changed her mind on the big issues.

“Joe and I got a lot of things right, but we got some things wrong, too — and here is what I have learned.”
For my money, uttering those 23 words, or something like them, is the key for Kamala Harris to win Tuesday’s debate against Donald Trump — and the election.
Utter them, and she will hugely improve her chances to win more of the undecided voters in this tight race. Fail to utter them or continue to disguise her policy shifts with the incoherent statement she used in the CNN interview — that while her positions might have changed on fracking and immigration, “my values have not changed” — and she will struggle.
Madam V.P., if you say your positions have changed but your values haven’t, what does that even mean? And what should we expect from your presidency — your values or your actions? Our latest poll shows too many voters still don’t know.
It’s OK to say: “I learned a lot as vice president. I’m proud of our record of putting America on a sustainable path to a clean energy future. It will make us more secure and more prosperous. But I also see that we can’t get there overnight. For reasons of both economic security and national security, we need an all-of-the-above energy strategy right now. So you can trust that in a Harris presidency, America will continue to lead the world in exploiting our oil and gas advantages but we will do it in the cleanest way possible while making the transition as fast possible.”

Read more at: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/opinion/friedman-harris-debate.html?partner=IFTTT