(CNN)The first six-ish months of Kamala Harris’ time as vice president have, generally speaking, gone according to her plan. She’s been a consistent messenger for President Joe Biden while learning the possibilities (and limitations) that come with being second-in-command.
That smooth ride ended this week, thanks to a confluence of events — some within her control, others not.* The White House made a big deal out of Harris’ two-day trip to Central America earlier this week. And Harris’ main goal was simple: To send a message to Central Americans to stop coming to the US southern border. Which she did, to the consternation of liberals but the satisfaction of Biden. But the visit wound up being overshadowed by her seemingly flippant answer to a question from NBC’s Lester Holt about why she hadn’t yet visited the southern border. (Biden has tasked Harris with leading the administration’s response to stemming the flow of migration from Central America.)“At some point, you know, we are going to the border,” Harris said in the interview. “We’ve been to the border. So this whole, this whole, this whole thing about the border. We’ve been to the border. We’ve been to the border.”Holt responded: “You haven’t been to the border.”“I, and I haven’t been to Europe,” Harris replied to Holt, with a laugh. “And I mean, I don’t — I don’t understand the point that you’re making.” Which, not great. As CNN reported on Tuesday: “Several sources say there was a real hope inside the White House that Harris’ first trip abroad would be a success, and worry that what looked like ill-prepared answers to that inevitable question would overshadow it.”
Source: Kamala Harris is having a bad week (and it’s only Wednesday!) – CNNPolitics
