Vice President Harris speaks about manufacturing and her economic policies at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh on September 25. Jeff Swensen/Getty Images Hide caption
Toggle caption Jeff Swensen/Getty Images
Vice President Harris delivered the longest economic speech of the campaign on Wednesday, outlining her “pragmatic” vision for working with the private sector to help expand opportunity for the middle class.
In Pittsburgh, known for its steel industry and seen as a key state in the next presidential election, Harris spoke about her plans to invest in new technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, as well as ideas such as doubling apprenticeship programs and reforming tax laws to make it easier to create profit-sharing programs.
“I believe we should not be tied to ideology but rather apply metrics to our analysis, practical solutions to problems, realistic assessments of what is working and what is not,” Harris said.
Harris has made it clear that she would support labor unions if elected president, but has also indicated she would work with the private sector and entrepreneurs.
Harris would give tax credits to areas that want growth.
Harris has previously floated ideas to reduce costs for housing and families and provide incentives for small businesses.
She said Wednesday she was concerned that new projects were taking too long to get off the ground in the United States compared to China, and that she would crack down on dumping, unfair subsidies and counterfeit goods from China.
“When China breaks the rules of the road at the expense of our workers, communities and businesses, I will never hesitate to take swift and strong action,” she said.
Ms. Harris’ speech was long on vision but short on details, and her campaign said it believed voters were more interested in her priorities than complex policy proposals.
She listed sectors she wanted to see grow, including biomanufacturing, aerospace, AI, quantum computing and advanced batteries, but said her administration would also invest in “factory cities” and “agricultural centers.”
Harris’ campaign later said she would propose tax credits for companies that invest in these areas, and that she would expand pilot projects for AI research at the National Science Foundation to give more companies access to AI tools.
Harris’ campaign said her plan would cost about $100 billion and would be paid for by raising taxes on companies that move their headquarters outside the United States and other strategies.
President Trump also delivered economic speeches in battleground states this week.
With early voting underway and just 40 days until Election Day, Harris and former President Donald Trump are reaching out to undecided voters in battleground states. This marks Harris’ eighth visit to Pennsylvania since she entered the presidential race in July. She spent several days in Pittsburgh earlier this month preparing for her debate with Trump.
In her speech, Harris drew a contrast with Trump, portraying herself as coming from a middle-class background while her Republican opponent came from an affluent background.
“For Donald Trump, our economy works best for the people who own the skyscrapers. Not for the people who actually build them. Not for the people who wire them. Not for the people who mop the floors,” Harris said.
Trump visited Georgia, another battleground state, on Tuesday and said that if elected he would cut taxes on manufacturing, cut regulations, raise tariffs on imports and offer federal land to manufacturers.
Speaking Wednesday in Mint Hill, North Carolina, Trump said Harris’ plan to raise corporate taxes during the campaign would drive manufacturing out of the country. He said Harris could have done more as vice president to support manufacturing and wealth creation.
“She was there for almost four years and did nothing. She didn’t create wealth,” Trump said.
When it comes to the economy, most polls show Trump ahead of Harris, but his lead on the issue is smaller than his lead over President Biden.
Biden has focused his economic policies on manufacturing, echoing some of Trump’s policies of using tariffs and subsidies to lure companies back from overseas, but polls show those measures are unpopular and voters blame Biden for the rising cost of living.
NPR’s Stephen Fowler contributed to this report from Mint Hill, North Carolina.
