Sanders to Harris's 'Right Turn': "You Haven't Betrayed Progressivism"

"Harris Capital Gains Tax Rate 28%, Should Be Raised Further"

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a leading progressive politician, evaluated Vice President Kamala Harris's pledges as progressive, although different from his own views. He diagnosed Harris's recent 'rightward shift' as a pragmatic move to win the presidential election.

In an interview with NBC News on the 8th (local time), Senator Sanders described Vice President Harris's recent conservative shift on industrial and welfare policies as "pragmatic," saying, "Harris is doing what she believes is right to win the election." He added that campaigning on other progressive agendas such as raising the minimum wage, increasing wealth taxes, and expanding social security benefits could lead to victory in the presidential race.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Sanders's remarks are interpreted as support for Vice President Harris, who has been modifying and reversing her previous positions and pledges to attract moderate voters. Earlier, Axios pointed out that Harris's changed or unclear policy agendas have reached nine areas so far, including immigration, environment, and healthcare.

Notably, Vice President Harris withdrew her policy to expand Medicare (health insurance for the elderly) to all citizens and reversed her stance on mandating the production of only zero-emission vehicles such as electric cars by 2035. She also changed her position on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale gas extraction from 'opposed' to 'permitted,' which was seen as a move to gain votes from Pennsylvania voters. Fracking is a major source of income in Pennsylvania, where shale gas production is active.

Senator Sanders emphasized, "Harris and I pursue different directions," but added, "I don't think she has abandoned her ideals. She is still progressive." However, regarding Harris's pledge to raise the long-term capital gains tax rate to 28% for households earning over $1 million annually, he pointed out, "I would propose a higher rate than that." Previously, Harris supported the Biden administration's capital gains tax rate of 39.6% but recently reversed her position. Sanders had argued during the 2016 presidential primary that the capital gains tax rate should be significantly increased to 54.2%.

Meanwhile, Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump are in a tight race in battleground states that will decide the outcome of the presidential election. According to a poll jointly released by The New York Times (NYT) and Siena College on the same day, among seven battleground states, the two candidates were tied at 48% support in four states: Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona. In contrast, Harris led Trump by 1 to 2 percentage points in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. The two candidates will face off in the first TV debate hosted by ABC at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on the 10th.