As polls show a tight presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris has embarked on a media blitz to broaden her voter coalition. She recently sat down with Fox News’ Bret Baier to reach disillusioned Republican voters who feel neglected by their party. The outcome may not have been worth the effort.

Beyond attracting undecided voters, Harris and her campaign seem to be positioning themselves as moderates, aiming to create a stark contrast with Donald Trump, who is viewed by many as extremist and divisive. While engaging with an adversarial media outlet could have been a solid strategic move to present the Democratic Party as a unifying force, Harris’s lack of substantive responses may have dissuaded undecided voters.

During the fiery interview, Harris showed herself unprepared. On the topic of immigration, a significant issue for voters according to a recent Harvard poll, Harris could not offer a clear picture of her policy. This was especially disappointing for Harris, given that in 2021, President Biden tasked her with addressing migration issues at the southern border. She has since faced criticism for her failure to resolve the problem.

When pressed on whether she still supported policies she professed in 2019 that would allow undocumented immigrants to access driver’s licenses, free tuition, and healthcare, her response was underwhelming: “That was five years ago… I will follow the law.”

According to a Gallup poll, most voters think the southern border is a continuing crisis or a significant problem. As the second-most influential person in the administration, Harris needed a more polished and direct response.

Immigration wasn’t the only area where Harris struggled. She fumbled when asked how she would differ from the Biden administration, a question she failed to answer satisfactorily on “The View” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

Harris asserted, “I will not be a continuation of the Biden administration,” but she did not follow through with specifics. Her unwillingness or inability to articulate how her presidency would differ from Biden’s suggests a lack of intention to diverge from his policies. Ultimately, this leaves voters questioning: If she can’t clearly articulate her differences, how would she govern differently from President Biden?

Baier said that 79% of Americans think the country is on the wrong track, and he asked how Harris, as part of the administration, could avoid being implicated in that sentiment. Despite the predictability of this challenge, Harris was unprepared, responding instead with a jab at Trump.

The interview was ultimately a pyrrhic victory. She may have earned kudos from her base, but her inability to distance herself from prior policy positions and the Biden administration’s record left much to be desired. For swing voters concerned about border security, the economy, foreign policy, or the country’s overall direction, it’s hard to see how this interview could have won them over.

Daniel Corcoran is a contributor to Young Voices/InsideSources.

Editorial cartoon by Steve Kelley (Creators Syndicate)