Kamala Harris gives her first solo television interview since her presidential candidacy

In Kamala Harris' first solo interview since she began her campaign for the White House seven weeks ago, the vice president stayed true to her talking points in an interview with ABC's Philadelphia affiliate.

There were no baseless claims from the vice president that immigrants in Ohio are eating pets, like the ones Donald Trump made again today in Harris' home state of California. Instead, the sophisticated Harris focused on her arguments for the economy, empowering working Americans, gun ownership and reducing crime. Seeking every vote she can get, the vice president also explained to Action News 6's Brian Taff how she differs from President Joe Biden.

“I'm obviously not Joe Biden,” the vice president told Taff in response to a question about a policy issue on which she and her POTUS boss had differing views. “And, you know, I'm offering a new generation of leaders,” Harris added, in language reminiscent of her Sept. 10 ABC News-moderated debate with Trump. “Like thinking about developing and creating an opportunity economy, which is about investing in areas that really need a lot of work. Maybe refocusing on the aspirations and dreams, but also just recognizing that right now we can't take for granted some of the things that we took for granted years ago.”

You can watch the entire interview here:

Following her joint interview with her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, on CNN on Aug. 29 and the City of Brotherly Love-hosted debate with the often incomprehensible former host of “Celebrity Apprentice” on the Disney-owned network earlier this week, the Harris campaign’s decision to tap a local broadcaster for her first one-on-one interview makes strategic sense.

First, with ratings on national networks declining, targeting local media has been the Biden/Harris team's media mantra since the 2020 election and since the beginning of his administration. And despite claims from the Beltway that local TV is a softball town, in a campaign widely believed to be all about swing states, there are few crown jewels as valuable as Pennsylvania. So granting the vice president his first solo interview with the Philly ABC station bodes well for both the popular vote and the Electoral College.

Nearly all polls show Harris and Trump virtually tied in the Keystone State and its 19 electoral votes. The vice president was traveling throughout Pennsylvania on Friday, with an event in Jonestown (where she conducted the interview with Taff at the local bookstore Classic Elements), a rally in Wilkes-Barre and more. Trump was traveling to California on Thursday after fundraising in the Golden State before heading to an event in the sin city of Las Vegas.

After outlining her differences with Joe Biden, Harris was very clear about her differences with Trump in the interview, barely mentioning her opponent's name.

“I know from my experience and lived experience that the vast majority of us Americans have so much more in common than what divides us,” Harris told Taff. “And I also believe I'm right when I say that most Americans want a leader who will bring us together as Americans, not someone who is pretending to be a leader who is trying to get us to point fingers at each other.”

“I think people are more willing now, given the hatred and division that comes from Donald Trump, to say, 'Hey, let's put country first,'” the vice president continued, using words straight out of John McCain's unsuccessful campaign against Barack Obama in 2008. “And I think that just makes us stronger and healthier as a country when we say, 'Look, we're going to do it.' We can all discuss our differences on various policies, but let's stop dividing. Stop that, let's bring everyone together.”

If you still have any doubts about how important Pennsylvania is to Harris' path to victory and 270 electoral votes, the vice president will be back in the state and Philadelphia on Sept. 17 for an event with the National Association of Black Journalists. Trump made an appearance at NABJ in late July, just days after Biden dropped out and Harris became the Democratic standard-bearer. When the Republican questioned whether the vice president was even black, Trump's onstage performance went from bad to downright bad.

According to the campaign, the vice president will remain in Washington, DC, this weekend, and her only scheduled event tomorrow is the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Phoenix Awards.