Harris tries to take centrist track as opponents paint her as extreme

WASHINGTON (TND) — Now that Vice President Kamala Harris has formally accepted her party’s nomination, the race is on to try and define what she’s all about.

It was noticeable at the Democratic National Convention that Harris tried to expand the Democratic umbrella while trying to chart a course that appeals to moderates and independents instead of the extreme progressives in her party.A handful of Republicans tried to make the case that she has broad appeal, too.

I want to let my fellow Republicans in on a little secret. The Democrats are just as patriotic as us," said former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.

Harris preached safety and security when it comes to communities and the border, a far cry from the "Open Borders" and "Defund the Police" tags that have hounded Democrats for years. Her opponents aren't buying the pivot.

"She will never build the wall. She doesn't wanna build a wall. She's only saying if she, if she changes her mind, it's only because she wants to get elected because who wouldn't want to have a strong border?" said former President Donald Trump during a stop at the southern border in Arizona this week.

Trump has been on the campaign trail highlighting Harris' flip-flops. His campaign created a website on past stances she’s taken like diverting funds for law enforcement and giving federal benefits to illegal immigrants.They’re also out with an ad labeling Harris as anything but a centrist, calling her “dangerously liberal.”

The big question over the next two-and-a-half months is if Harris can convince voters she’s a moderate that independents can get on board with. Former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Harris should govern from the center if she were to win, because, as she puts it, "that’s where the public is."