Harris was met with a wave of left-wing enthusiasm when she became the party’s presumptive nominee after President Biden left the race. Her fracking stance could dampen excitement among progressives, but the party’s left flank is still poised to ultimately back her over former President Trump.
The Hill first reported, citing a Harris campaign official, that the vice president no longer supports a ban on fracking, despite taking the opposite stance when she first ran for the Democratic nomination last cycle.
Some political strategists believe Harris’s pivot was smart, reassuring some voters, particularly those concerned about economic and labor issues.
“Fracking is a central part, a foundational part, a significant portion of Pennsylvania's economy. The economic argument is going to be extremely significant nationally, and in the States, it's the top issue on voters’ minds,” said Jon Reinish, a national Democratic strategist.
Others disagreed, saying they don’t believe her stance on fracking will have major implications for the race. Her path to victory in key states like Pennsylvania is unlikely to include many hardcore oil and gas supporters, said Pennsylvania-based Democratic strategist Mike Mikus.
Mikus was skeptical Harris’ reversal on the issue will be a millstone in the pivotal swing state, which was ground zero for the 2010s natural-gas boom. Mikus noted that Republicans levied similar attacks on President Biden, who unlike Harris has not signaled support for a ban.
“The Republicans have always used this as an attack regardless of whether that was a candidate’s position–it’s like the boy who cried wolf,” Mikus told The Hill. “It became an attack that never stuck.”
Read more when the story runs tomorrow morning at TheHill.com.
