Kamala Harris expected to blame Democrats and Republicans for failed economic policy at state party dinner
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to call for a “rebirth of the American dream” and blame Democrats as well as Republicans for failed economic policies in a speech Saturday evening, according to excerpts shared with NBC News.
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“Democrats never bought into the fallout [economics]. It was the work of Ronald Reagan. But many Democrats have bought into the flawed assumptions that underlie that,” Harris, the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, plans to say at the Arkansas Democratic Party’s annual Fisher Shackelford Dinner.
Democrats, Harris will say, believed “that, if we just trusted the wisdom of the market, workers would eventually be taken care of. That growth at the top would take care of everyone else. And so, even when people were doing everything right – working hard day and night, the economic system was basically no longer meeting their needs.”
She will add that “over time, for many, the American dream has practically transformed into an American myth.”
His remarks come amid speculation that Harris, who first ran for president before the 2020 presidential election and later became former President Joe Biden’s running mate, could run for president again in two years.
“Look, I could. I’m thinking about it,” she told the Rev. Al Sharpton in New York earlier this month when asked if she planned to run in 2028.
“Let me also say this: I served for four years within a heartbeat of the presidency of the United States. … I know what this job is and I know what it requires,” Harris told Sharpton.
Harris’ prepared remarks Saturday also include a call for Democrats to plan how they will govern if they regain power in Washington after President Donald Trump leaves office.
“Let’s also pursue a vision for the future. Yes, a vision that addresses Trump’s remaining time in office. But just as important, a vision that is relevant to when we are on the other side and he is ultimately removed from office,” the former vice president plans to say.
She will lay out what she calls a “bold agenda,” including a plan for “a public education that prepares students for success in the 21st century — not debt for the rest of their lives,” a “tax code that rewards hard work — not just immense wealth,” and “safeguards around social media and AI that serve the public — not just profit.”
Even though Harris is considered a likely 2028 candidate, many other Democratic leaders are also expected to compete for their party’s nomination in two years.
The governors. Gavin Newsom of California, JB Pritzker of Illinois, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Wes Moore of Maryland, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Senators Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Rep. Ro Khanna are among those widely seen as weighing a race.
