Jeremy Siegel: This is GBH’s Morning Edition. The Democratic candidate for vice president is set to arrive in Boston today. Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota is making his first solo appearances for the campaign as his running mate, VP Kamala Harris, continues barnstorming battleground states, planning to roll out her economic plan in North Carolina on Friday. Now this all comes before Democratic leaders from around the country plan to gather in Chicago next week for the party’s convention. That includes Democratic Whip and Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark, who joins me now for more. Good morning, Congresswoman.

Rep. Katherine Clark: Good morning Jeremy.

Siegel: So today marks the first stop by the Harris-Walz campaign in Massachusetts. It is a private fundraiser in Boston’s Back Bay. What role do you think your home state will play in this race? Is it just a piggybank for November?

Clark: You know, I think that what we know in Massachusetts is what it means when we act on the things that families around the Bay State need. And they’re the same needs of families around the country. So we understand about protecting reproductive freedom, about lowering costs for people, how we tackle affordable housing, childcare. And we are the country’s leader in expanding health care and making sure that that is a right and not a privilege. So Massachusetts is going to have a lot to say about how we shape a campaign to come that is about fighting for freedom and opportunity for all, and rejecting the GOP’s politics of division.

Siegel: Those are messages that we can expect to come up at the convention next week. There’s clearly immense energy surrounding this ticket. Democrats are seeing record fundraising numbers, volunteer signups, long lines for campaign rallies. What do you think needs to happen to keep that momentum going?

Clark: You know, I think that they have tapped into what the American people are hungry for, and that is a candidate, in Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who we see ourselves in, but they see us. And it’s those issues about, you know, who is going to fight for your family, whether that’s around health care, lowering the cost of groceries, being safe from gun violence, being allowed to retire with dignity, to rely on the promise of Social Security and Medicare. So what we are seeing is this incredible energy to say, let’s make government work for people again. And rejecting the extremism of the GOP and Donald Trump and their commitment to a very dangerous Project 2025 agenda. And so I think that she will get a further boost from our convention, and then we roll right into the first debate on September 10th. So I think that she is the right candidate at the right moment, as people are rejecting the politics of division and looking for someone who has a vision like Kamala Harris for the future.

Siegel: Let’s talk a little bit about the Republican opponents and potential vulnerabilities for the Democratic campaign. The vice president has made several rally appearances with big crowds. As I mentioned, though, she has come under fire for not doing a Q&A with reporters, not sitting down for an interview. Here’s Republican VP candidate JD Vance speaking last week in Michigan.

Sen. JD Vance [preciously recorded]: Kamala Harris had another scripted set of remarks before a teleprompter yesterday. And today marks 17 days where she has been the presumptive Democratic nominee and 17 days where she has refused to answer questions from the media. President Trump will go anywhere into hostile audiences and to friendly audiences and answer tough questions. I will go anywhere and answer tough questions, because I respect the American people enough to say that I should have to earn your vote.

Siegel: Congresswoman, does Senator Vance have a point? Should someone campaigning for president be taking questions?

Clark: You know, he is trying to create a very a false controversy here. Listen, Kamala Harris is doing exactly what she should be doing two weeks into her presidential campaign, and that is talking to voters. And at the same time, she is, of course, taking questions from the press and will continue to do so. So I understand that JD Vance has had a rough go here and is flailing to try and make an issue that sticks, but what people come down with, they are going to look at, or the very comments by JD Vance: That he thinks there should be a national abortion ban, that somehow women who choose not to have children are second-class, putting down workers. You know, just you name it, JD Vance has dug himself into a very deep hole. And so, you know, if this is the best he’s got against Kamala Harris, good luck to him.

Siegel: Respectfully, though, Congresswoman, I mean, people do care seeing a candidate answering questions, being in a back-and-forth. Do you think that is something that she should do officially? You know, a Q&A with reporters in the weeks ahead.

Clark: And I’m sure she will. You know, we have a debate coming up. She’s got a convention that will be highly covered by the press. She takes press questions, at all her stops. Her stops are open to the press. So, you know, this is not the concern. I think what we need to be focused on is exactly where those policies are. What are the differences? And what we are seeing: Donald Trump is a convicted felon who continues to fight for two Americans: One, those who are very wealthy. And he, you know, he is the one who wants to make us a country where we have second-class citizens, where women can’t access the health care they need. We want to grow the middle class and ensure that billionaires and corporations pay their fair share. And Harris and Walz have that have that record of fighting for working people and freedom. They’re, you know, this is why there is so much energy and optimism about this candidacy and this ticket, because people want to see themselves reflected again in the work of government, and that’s exactly what they’re going to do.

Siegel: House Minority Whip and Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark. Really appreciate you taking the time. Thank you so much.

Clark: Thank you.

Siegel: This is GBH news.

In less than a week, Democrats will gather in Chicago for the party’s national convention.

And as they prepare for the convention, in which Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will formally accept the nomination, Massachusetts Democrats in Congress are feeling energized.

“I think that they have tapped into what the American people are hungry for,” Congresswoman Katherine Clark, the Democratic Whip, told GBH’s Morning Edition co-host Jeremy Siegel Wednesday. “It’s those issues about who is going to fight for your family, whether that’s around health care, lowering the cost of groceries, being safe from gun violence, being allowed to retire with dignity, to rely on the promise of Social Security and Medicare.”

Democrats are also seeking to set their ticket apart from the Republican bid.

“Donald Trump is a convicted felon who continues to fight for two Americans: One, those who are very wealthy,” Clark said. “He is the one who wants to make us a country where we have second-class citizens, where women can’t access the health care they need. We want to grow the middle class and ensure that billionaires and corporations pay their fair share.”

Walz is making his first solo appearances for the campaign in Massachusetts at a private fundraiser in Boston’s Back Bay on Wednesday. While Massachusetts does not often see many campaign rallies, it is a frequent stop for fundraisers — and can shape the election, Clark said.

“What we know in Massachusetts is what it means when we act on the things that families around the Bay State need, and they’re the same needs of families around the country,” Clark said, highlighting reproductive health care and the costs of living, housing and childcare. “Massachusetts is going to have a lot to say about how we shape a campaign to come that is about fighting for freedom and opportunity for all, and rejecting the GOP’s politics of division.”

Republican Sen. JD Vance, former President Donald Trump’s running mate, has been criticizing Harris for not holding an open press conference since launching her campaign. Clark said she’s writing it off.

“Kamala Harris is doing exactly what she should be doing two weeks into her presidential campaign, and that is talking to voters,” Clark said. “At the same time, she is, of course, taking questions from the press and will continue to do so. So I understand that JD Vance has had a rough go here and is flailing to try and make an issue that sticks, but what people come down with, they are going to look at, or the very comments by JD Vance: That he thinks there should be a national abortion ban, that somehow women who choose not to have children are second-class, putting down workers. You know, just you name it, JD Vance has dug himself into a very deep hole. And so, you know, if this is the best he’s got against Kamala Harris, good luck to him.”

Rep. Lori Trahan on Morning Edition | Aug. 14, 2024

Jeremy Siegel: This is GBH’s Morning Edition. In less than a week, Democrats will gather in Chicago for the party’s national convention. It’s set to be a coronation for the Harris-Walz ticket, after the vice president and Minnesota governor re-energized the Democratic base. But can that energy last until November? To answer that question and more, I’m joined now by Massachusetts Democratic Congresswoman Lori Trahan. Good morning, Congresswoman.

Rep. Lori Trahan: Good morning Jeremy.

Siegel: So what is the point of a convention when the presidential candidate and the vice presidential candidate are virtually set in stone already?

Trahan: Well, conventions are an opportunity to show voters across the country what your party stands for. You know, we saw what was featured at the Republican convention last month: Promises of mass deportation, fight chants on the floor, attacks on, you know, the free press from prime-time speakers. It was just another round of Donald Trump’s greatest hits. But what Democrats will do next week is the exact opposite. You know, we’ll present a forward-looking plan focused on delivering for every American, strengthening our economy, protecting our communities, and restoring the freedom of every woman to make the best decision for her health and her family. Democrats are united. We’re ready to make the best case over the next three months, why Kamala Harris should be the next president of the United States.

Siegel: The past couple of weeks have marked a major turnaround for Democrats: Registration up in some states, major fundraising numbers coming in, Republicans even having some difficulty landing major attacks. But honeymoon periods for campaigns do come to an end. What does Harris need to do in the days ahead, including at the convention, to keep that momentum going to prevent that from coming to an end?

Trahan: Well, I think that Vice President Harris is really excited and energized about sharing her vision for the future, one where families have lower costs, child care is more affordable, our communities are safer and our rights are protected. You’re right to point out more than 230,000 people have registered to vote over the past three weeks. 81% of those voters are young people between the ages of 18 to 34. So, you know, we have to leverage that momentum going into the convention and then sustain it. And I think that you’re seeing that district by district, state by state, you know, sort of pairing all the races that are in play this November with a really strong ticket in Harris and Walz.

Siegel: Congresswoman, you mentioned that surge in support from young people. Young progressives are a group of potential voters who have been vocal in their criticism of Israel. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators even recently interrupted a speech by Harris in Michigan.

Vice President Kamala Harris [previously recorded]: He intends to surrender our fight against the climate crisis, and he intends to end the Affordable Care Act. You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise I’m speaking.

Siegel: Is the vice president’s approach to the war in the Middle East and protesters on the issue, is it the right path here?

Trahan: Vice president Harris has been, and remains consistent in her support for a ceasefire that stops the violence and bring home brings home the hostages. And she has acknowledged the humanitarian crisis on the ground in Gaza. So I do think she’s going to continue to do that. She’ll continue to, you know, fight for our values and bring that conversation to younger voters who are deeply concerned about the future of this war. So, look, I also think that she’d recognize that this is a clear choice between how she would handle our foreign policy and how Donald Trump would. And so that is all going to be on full display during the convention and in the months that follow.

Siegel: Just to ask a little bit more about this, is the Israeli war is something that could split the Democratic Party, because a group of Massachusetts advocates are among those joining pro-Palestinian rallies ahead of the DNC on Sunday, calling for both a cease fire and an arms embargo. You mentioned the vice president calling for a cease fire. You yourself have been vocal in calling for that. Do you think she should support an arms embargo?

Trahan: Look, I think right now I have I have never seen the Democratic Party more united. But one of the reasons why we’re so united is because we have tough conversations in our caucus. Look, Donald Trump has called for leveling Gaza. Compare that with Vice President Harris, who has called for a cease fire. She is pushing on the Israeli government to do the right thing, and to stop the humanitarian crisis and to get to the table in good faith, to, you know, find a way to a cease fire and a way to peace. So I think that if you just look, it’s the ultimate contrast in how she would handle, you know, future negotiations with Israel versus what Donald Trump would do if he were to win. So I do think that is why you see our caucus and our country and our, you know, our party united because it’s just a much more responsible approach.

Siegel: There is clearly a big difference between Republicans and Democrats and some unification on the Democratic front. But just just to be clear, do you think the vice president should support an arms embargo?

Trahan: I think the vice president is going to make, you know, her case directly to voters. She is going to be a trusted leader in these negotiations. Sometimes that is something that she can share, with, you know, with our party and with the, with the country. But she is going to be sort of the arbiter of a ceasefire in the not-so-distant future. And so, I think, you know, making sure that we give her the flexibility to do that as we would with any president is paramount. So I’m not going to get ahead of her decision on an embargo.

Siegel: Quickly while I have you, Congresswoman, I wanted to ask you about something beyond the campaign in the next 30 seconds we have. You’re a big proponent of green energy. But over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been seeing major fallout from a broken turbine blade at the offshore Vineyard wind farm. What can you say to people who are now questioning their trust of wind farms, of renewable energy in this moment?

Trahan: Yeah, look, what happened last month when the blade on the offshore wind turbine broke off, it was unfortunate. And look, it was concerning. I’m glad that the company, in coordination with local, state and federal officials, has moved quickly on a process to clean up the debris. They have a lot of work ahead of them. But compare this failure of an offshore wind turbine to an offshore oil rig or a pipeline failure and it’s night and day. In fact, as we speak, Louisiana is still reeling from the disastrous consequences of the failure of a refinery processing offshore oil that dump 34,000 gallons of crude oil into a neighboring waterway. So this most recent disaster pales in comparison to what we’ve seen on oil rigs like Deepwater Horizon or underwater pipeline failures like the BP oil spill. You know, instead of dealing with that kind of disaster, we’re talking about a situation where a Massachusetts company, Vineyard Wind, that cares deeply about the local environment is moving quickly to clean up nontoxic debris. So we’ll hold Vineyard Wind to that. But in the meantime, I’m glad we don’t have to deal with something much worse, like an oil spill.

Siegel: Massachusetts Congresswoman Lori Trahan, thank you so much for your time.

Trahan: Thanks, Jeremy.

Siegel: This is GBH news.

Massachusetts Congresswoman Lori Trahan said she’s also focused on the differences between the Democratic and Republican tickets, and believes voters are, too.

Trahan said she hopes the party will use its convention to highlight issues like the economy, childcare costs, security and reproductive health.

“Conventions are an opportunity to show voters across the country what your party stands for,” Trahan told GBH’s Morning Edition Wednesday. “We saw what was featured at the Republican convention last month: Promises of mass deportation, fight chants on the floor, attacks on, you know, the free press from prime-time speakers. It was just another round of Donald Trump’s greatest hits. But what Democrats will do next week is the exact opposite.”

Trahan noted that many new voter registrations since President Joe Biden announced he won’t be seeking re-election are among people 18 to 34.

One issue some young voters say they care about is the war between the Israeli military and Hamas in Gaza.

“Vice President Harris has been, and remains consistent in her support for a ceasefire that stops the violence and bring home brings home the hostages. And she has acknowledged the humanitarian crisis on the ground in Gaza,” Trahan said. “Look, Donald Trump has called for leveling Gaza. Compare that with Vice President Harris, who has called for a ceasefire. She is pushing on the Israeli government to do the right thing, and to stop the humanitarian crisis and to get to the table in good faith, to, you know, find a way to a ceasefire and a way to peace.”

Trahan declined to answer a question about whether the U.S. should halt sending weapons shipments to Israel.

“I think the vice president is going to make her case directly to voters. She is going to be a trusted leader in these negotiations,” Trahan said. “I’m not going to get ahead of her decision on an embargo.”