Pollster Frank Luntz on Thursday criticized Vice President Kamala Harris' comments in an interview and economic speech on Wednesday.
Lantz appeared on “Squawk Box,” where co-host Andrew Ross Sorkin criticized Harris for Interview In an interview with MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle, she repeatedly asserted that wealthy Americans and corporations need to pay their “fair share” in taxes. Luntz said voters don't want to hear that because they want more concrete policies from Harris, which she hasn't delivered on. (Related: “Less atmosphere, more policies”: Here's why Harris' approval rating is lower than past Democratic candidates)
clock:
“Some of the things she's been saying in recent weeks are exactly what voters want to hear. It's not: 'Pay your fair share.' We've been hearing that for years, 30 years, 40 years. What is your fair share? … And the problem with it is that it's a short phrase, a slogan. I'm a message-giver, that's my job,” the pollster said. “But people want a detailed action plan and they're not getting that from her… She's addressing housing, she's addressing health care, she's addressing food and fuel, she's implementing policies.”
Luntz then turned his attention to Harris' economics. speech In Pittsburgh, the vice president vowed to be “realistic.”
“Let me give you an example of 'practical' versus 'common sense.' Practical is what the polls say, doing what's smart, doing what's politically smart,” he said. “What the public is asking is, 'If we're going to raise taxes, where are we going to raise them and what are the impacts?' That's what the public is asking, and ultimately, 'Let's keep a little more of what we earn and let's lower the cost of living a little bit.'”
Luntz praised Harris for being “focused on the future” and contrasted her approach with former President Donald Trump, who is “focused on the past.” But the pollster also noted that the vice president “simply” mentioned “good union jobs” rather than “good jobs for all Americans.”
“But she only talks about good union jobs. We're all hardworking taxpayers and we're all part of the economy,” he said. “And for her, with an election coming up, focusing on one group isn't helpful when the economy affects everyone.”
“I'm a focus group moderator, so when I create a message, I know what it is. This was driven by a focus group,” Luntz added, “It didn't feel like her own words. It felt like someone like me read the speech and added a few phrases… When you repeat the same word three times, like she did, you know it's a line. Then you know it's not how she really feels.”
In an interview with Harris, Mr. Ruhle defended her for not giving “clear and direct” answers to questions about tariffs.
As an independent, nonpartisan news service, all content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation is available free of charge to any legitimate news publisher with a large readership. All republished articles must include our logo, reporter byline, and affiliation with the DCNF. If you have any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact us at licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
