Vice President Kamala Harris finds herself in a challenging position as she navigates the complex terrain of energy policy while campaigning as the Democratic nominee for president. With her past and contradictory positions on fracking and oil drilling, Harris is now taking a cautious approach to discussing these issues as the Democratic nominee.
During her acceptance speech, she mentioned climate change only once, and her running mate refrained from addressing it at all in his own speech. This silence is not accidental but rather a strategic move to avoid alienating key voter blocs and to sidestep potential political pitfalls.
Recent reports from Politico note that green groups have decided to take a quieter approach with Harris. They are adopting a “do-no-harm” stance, refraining from pushing for detailed policy commitments or criticizing her for reversing her past opposition to fracking. These activists are focused on getting Harris elected first, with the understanding that more detailed policy discussions will follow.
Harris’ reluctance to address oil and gas issues is a calculated move to avoid the kind of scrutiny that could jeopardize her campaign. For instance, her economic plan has so far omitted any mention of how she would address energy prices, in stark contrast to her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, who has made energy independence a central theme of his campaign.
As Harris continues her campaign, balancing her past positions on oil and gas with the political realities of a general election will remain a central challenge.