Vice President Kamala Harris is focusing on key battleground states, targeting swing voters—like those who supported former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in the Republican primary.
Harris’s message aligns with Haley’s previous warnings about former President Donald Trump and foreign policy. Speaking to voters in Michigan’s Oakland County, Harris said, “If Donald Trump were president, Vladimir Putin would be sitting in Kyiv—and imagine what that would mean for America and our global standing.” She warned that Trump would abandon Ukraine to Russia, signaling to Putin that “he can get away with what he has done. Look at the map. Poland would be next.”
Earlier this year, Haley similarly cautioned that failing to confront Putin could embolden him. “Once they take Ukraine, Poland and the Baltics are next,” she said, highlighting the threat to NATO countries and the risk of drawing the U.S. into war.
Both Harris and Haley have condemned what they call Trump’s “isolationist” approach, arguing it endangers national security. “Isolationism is not insulation,” Harris emphasized. “It will not protect us from harm.” Haley echoed these concerns, warning voters against Trump’s dismissal of allies. “America can never be so arrogant to think we don’t need friends,” she said.
Harris has also criticized Trump’s affinity for authoritarian leaders, a sentiment Haley has previously expressed. Harris said Trump “is clearly vulnerable to manipulation by flattery from dictators,” while Haley recalled confronting Trump over his rapport with Putin, stating, “You don’t befriend dictators and thugs who want to harm us.”
Though Harris and Haley represent different political ideologies, Harris is capitalizing on their shared foreign policy views to appeal to moderate Republican and independent voters. The vice president has gained support from prominent Republicans, including former Rep. Liz Cheney, who is campaigning with her to sway suburban voters disillusioned with Trump.
In Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where Harris recently campaigned, Haley earned significant primary support despite her eventual exit from the race. A Harris campaign official noted these votes suggest dissatisfaction with Trump among suburban Republicans. For instance, in Oakland County, Michigan, Haley received nearly 55,000 votes in the GOP primary, a county where Biden narrowly won in 2020.
Despite her earlier criticism, Haley is now preparing to campaign for Trump. Her team is coordinating with Trump’s team to arrange a joint appearance. Haley explained her decision to back Trump by citing policy impacts on her family, even as she acknowledged disagreements with his style and approach.
Nidia Cavazos covers the 2024 campaign for CBS News.
