Washington, 17 October 2024 (dpa/MIA) - In her first TV interview with the conservative US broadcaster Fox News, US Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris engaged in a heated exchange with the presenter in an interview that was more confrontational than previous ones.

The roughly 30-minute conversation felt like a duel, with Fox presenter Bret Baier repeatedly interrupting Harris on the first topic: migration.

Harris found herself on the defensive at the start but regained her footing as the discussion progressed.

Harris' rival Republican nominee Donald Trump, a former president, regularly criticizes Harris on border issues.

"May I finish responding?" Harris repeatedly asked as Baier interrupted her during the interview. She said it was right that the American public wanted a discussion on migration before the election. However, what people did not want was for politicians to use the border issue for political purposes.

Baier asked Harris if she owed an apology to the relatives of women murdered by migrants. While she called those cases "tragic" she noted that the US migration system has been broken for a long time and Congress is responsible for fixing it.

The House and Senate had produced a bipartisan immigration bill earlier this year but Republicans vetoed it after Trump reportedly did not want to give Biden a victory on the issue. Harris accused Republicans and Trump of blocking a solution.

Baier then shifted the conversation to the topic of gender reassignment surgeries and transgender rights, a subject often politicized by conservatives. He asked Harris if taxpayer money should be used for this.

Harris said Trump "spent $20 million on those ads trying to create a sense of fear in the voters, because he actually has no plan in this election that is about focusing on the needs of the American people."

The two sparred over the cognitive abilities of Biden, the former Democratic candidate, and Trump. Biden dropped out after a disastrous debate with Trump in which the president often lost his train of thought and often misspoke.

But Trump had a recent rambling campaign event in which he stood before a crowd swaying to music for about 20 minutes. Harris noted that those who knew Trump best - many former staff members - are not voting for him and consider Trump unfit for the presidency.

Harris deliberately distanced herself from Biden saying "let me be very clear, my presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden's presidency." She noted she is of a different generation and background and would bring her experience and new ideas to the White House.

Trump's campaign team called the interview a fiasco and labelled Harris as "angry and defensive." Trump had already attacked Baier, the moderator, before the interview, saying he was soft and criticizing what once appeared to be his favourite channel, Fox, as now weak towards the Democrats.

Carter fulfils wish and votes in election

But Harris is reportedly assured of at least one former office holder's vote - that of former president Jimmy Carter, who turned 100 on October 1.

Carter voted on Wednesday in his highly contested home state of Georgia, according to US media reports, citing the Carter Center.

The former president told his family that he had more interest in voting for Harris than in celebrating his 100th birthday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Carter, who is in poor health, had said he had a last wish and that was to vote for Harris in the November 5 election.

Early voting opened in Georgia on Tuesday with a record first-day turnout, according to election officials.

About a year and a half ago, Carter stopped his medical treatment after several hospital stays and went into hospice care.

Harris is in a neck-and-neck race against her Republican rival former president Donald Trump. US President Joe Biden won Georgia in 2020 but by just under 12,000 votes.

Georgia is one of a handful of so-called swing states seen by commentators as key to the election.

Change of strategy in the campaign

Harris was primarily accused of avoiding interviews at the start of her candidacy, but she has recently given several interviews, including with CNN, CBS, and ABC News, which are considered more liberal-leaning and generally more sympathetic to the Democrats.

She has also appeared on nontraditional media, such as podcasts, to reach a younger audience.

Trump and his vice-presidential candidate JD Vance are employing a similar strategy. Vance, in particular, is attempting to woo young men by appearing on podcasts they listen to.

There are reports that Harris is also planning an appearance on the popular Joe Rogan podcast, although these have not yet been confirmed. Rogan has been known for spreading misinformation and making racist remarks, for which he has apologized. His guests have included individuals who spread conspiracy theories.

MIA file photo