Kamala Harris desperately wants to be president, but does she know how to actually do the job?
Vice President Kamala Harris’s recent shift on fracking policy is causing ripples across Democratic campaigns, affecting races beyond her own. In Ohio, the high-stakes Senate race has become a focal point of this controversy.
Senator Sherrod Brown, a key Democratic figure in one of the year’s most critical and costly Senate races, found himself in an uncomfortable situation when questioned by Fox News about Harris’s recent reversal on fracking bans. Brown, visibly flustered, offered a vague response, stating, “My focus is on my state and my work,” while heading towards an elevator. When pressed about Harris’s stance on fracking, he admitted, “I’ve endorsed Vice President Harris … I don’t know what she said on fracking.”
Brown’s close ties to President Joe Biden, whose current lower profile has intensified the senator’s re-election struggle, are well-known. His opponent, Republican businessman Bernie Moreno, seized on this issue, criticizing Brown for his alignment with what he termed the “radical anti-energy agenda” of Harris and the broader Democratic Party.
“Sherrod Brown’s alignment with Kamala Harris and her fracking ban agenda reveals a dangerous disconnect from the needs of Ohioans,” Moreno said. “While they push for energy policies that could weaken our nation’s independence and economy, Ohio voters will choose a candidate who supports responsible energy production.”
Brown has previously supported fracking bans, creating a dilemma: either he must realign himself with Harris’s recent shift or remain steadfast in his documented position. Moreno’s spokesperson highlighted this inconsistency, stating, “Despite Harris’s attempts to backpedal, her past positions are clear. Brown and Harris both advocated for banning fracking, but Bernie Moreno will always support it.”
The GOP is capitalizing on this opportunity. JD Vance, an Ohio senator and running mate to Donald Trump, recently addressed a rally in Arizona, sharply contrasting the Republican stance with Harris’s policy. “Kamala Harris wants to end fracking and depend on foreign dictators for energy. Donald Trump says ‘drill, baby, drill!’” Vance declared, eliciting a strong, negative response to a potential fracking ban from the audience.
While Harris works to improve her standing in swing states and appeal to crucial voter demographics by softening her stance on fracking, Republicans are eager to highlight these policy shifts as evidence of Democratic inconsistency and vulnerability. As the November elections approach, this issue is shaping up to be a significant point of contention.