WASHINGTON (AP) — The presidential race is entering its final weeks, Democrat Kamala Harris and Republicans Donald Trump launched an interview blitz that revealed new details about their political priorities and their political strategies.

For the past few days, Harris has been sitting in on it Charlamagne, the godwhose radio show is particularly popular with younger and black viewers, and appeared in a combative 30-minute interview on Fox News, a typically safe haven for Republicans. Trump, meanwhile, took part in one controversial interview with the editor of Bloomberg News at a business forum in Chicago, although the audience was friendly to him, and participated in town halls on Fox News and the Spanish-language network Univision.

Here are some takeaways from the cascade of appearances:

Controlled campaigns go public – with risks

Both candidates have largely eschewed traditional interviews during the campaign, preferring to sit in front of friendly hosts, often in non-traditional media settings. The two-day interview marathon was a notable partial departure from this strategy.

Harris, who the Trump campaign has championed do not conduct interviews after the replacement of the president Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic list increased the pace this month. The vice president appeared on ABC’s “The View” and spoke with the radio host Howard Stern and recorded a show with a late night comedian Stephen Colbertamong other things, appearances. She also sat down with the news magazine “60 Minutes,” as is traditional for presidential candidates, while Trump canceled his appearance on the show.

Harris’ appearance on Fox with host Bret Baier on Wednesday seemed designed to show her willingness to take on any questioner, especially after Trump quit “60 Minutes.” The risks involved quickly became apparent as Baier immediately challenged her during immigration and often interrupted her afterwards.

By contrast, in his Chicago interview on Tuesday, Trump made frequent comments about Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait, even insulting him, as the audience cheered Trump on. Micklethwait questioned Trump’s support for tariffs and his plans to pay for his campaign promises.

The former president also appeared at a Fox News town hall in front of a friendly, all-female audience before attending a town hall on Spanish-language network Univision, where he took pointed questions from Latino voters. Like Harris, Trump is trying to expand his coalition to get the crucial votes he needs to win the head-to-head race. That’s why every interview counts for him.

Trump tacitly admits he is vulnerable on abortion

Trump has repeatedly said he is proud of his leadership role in reversing Roe v. Wade. But his recent comments on abortion are another reminder that the Republican understands that the issue is politically dangerous for him and his party.

He was forced to defend his position when he was asked a surprisingly pointed question by an all-female audience at a Fox News town hall.

“Women have the right to do what they want and need with their bodies, including their unborn child. That’s up to them, regardless of the circumstances,” the questioner said. “Some are necessary to save their own lives. Why is the government committed to women’s fundamental rights?”

Trump initially responded with his typical refrain that the issue had been returned to the states. But he also acknowledged that some of the state laws are “too strict.” And he went further: “And it will be done again, because there is already a movement in these states… to do it again.”

It’s not exactly clear what Trump meant. There is little evidence that pro-Trump Republican officials in states that have enacted strict abortion bans, some of which go into effect before many women realize they are pregnant, are taking action to “renew” their laws. .

Some states with strict bans have done so Questions about the ballot This year that would push them back. This also includes Florida, where Trump has also criticized the ban as too harsh said he would vote to uphold the law.

The truth is that the Roe reversal was a political disaster for Trump’s Republican Party. Since the Supreme Court ruling, women have revolted against the Republican Party in various elections. But Trump believes that obfuscating the situation with vague promises and a softer tone could limit the damage in November.

Harris agrees that Trump is a “fascist” as Trump doubles down on his authoritarian rhetoric

Charlamagne pushed the limits of Harris’ rhetoric as the Democrat reminded voters that they have “two choices… and there are two very different visions for our nation.”

“The other is about fascism. Why can’t we just say it?” Charlamagne interjected.

Harris immediately replied, “Yes, we can say that.”

It was the first time the vice president had so directly and publicly endorsed such language to describe Trump. The exchange underscored Harris’ decision to return to a key Biden argument as Election Day approaches: Democracy is at stake on November 5. And, Democrats argue, Trump is unfit to lead because of his lies about the legitimacy of the 2020 election, his role in the 2020 election January 6, 2021Capitol riot and its consistent authoritarian rhetoric, among other things.

Trump provided a new example during his appearances on Fox and Univision.

When pressed about his supporters’ violent attack on the Capitol, Trump defended his supporters. “It was a day of love through the eyes of millions,” he said on Univision.

He also refused to back down from his comments over the weekend that his Democratic rivals posed a greater threat to the United States than China and Russia. Over the weekend and again in the Fox interview, he called them “the enemy within.”

Experts have warned that such language is widespread among authoritarian leaders seeking to suppress dissent.

“It is the enemy from within and he is very dangerous. “They are Marxists, communists and fascists,” Trump said on Fox, naming the former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam SchiffD-California, who served on the congressional committee that investigated Trump’s role in the January 6 insurrection.

Harris tried to intimidate Trump over the comments on Fox, but the network played a shortened clip of Trump claiming that “the other side” was a threat to democracy. Harris complained that this was not a complete account of what he said.

Both campaigns are vying to win over black men

In an election that could be decided on the margins, every vote counts. On the final road to the election, Trump and Harris are turning their focus to black men.

Harris warned in her interview with Charlamagne that Trump wants to oversee a return to harsh policing tactics called “stop and frisk” that disproportionately affect black men. She vowed to push for legislation to address discriminatory law enforcement practices and decriminalize marijuana arrests, which also disproportionately affect black men. And she said reparations for ancestors of slaves should be explored, a position that is not new but one that Trump has sought to exploit to bolster his advantage with white voters.

It was one of the first times this campaign season that criminal justice reforms were a major talking point for Harris, although they dominated in 2020.

Trump exuded confidence as he addressed black voters on Tuesday. Both parties acknowledge that Harris is likely to win an overwhelming majority of black voters, but Trump is eating into their margins, particularly among young black men. Any significant shift could have consequences for a razor-thin election.

“Any African-American or Hispanic, and you know how good I feel there, who votes for Kamala needs to get their head examined,” Trump said.

Harris said part of her challenge is that Trump’s campaign is “trying to scare people away because otherwise they know they have nothing to work with.”

“Ask Donald Trump what his plan is for black America,” she said. “Ask him.”

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Völker reported from New York. Riccardi reported from Denver.