MUST WATCH: FIRST FULL INTERVIEW KAMALA HARRIS AND WALZ | CNN

[Music] good evening we're live from Savannah Georgia I'm Dana Bash and this is a state very much up for grabs in between a whirlwind series of stops I sat down with the Democratic candidate for president and her running made today at Kim's Cafe here in Savannah inside nothing was off the table and you will see our interview in its entirety the vice president's first as her party's standard Bearer responding to her critics and answering our questions [Music] you welcome on board thank you it's good to see you this is not where vice president Harris thought she would be we're going to Georgia yes seventh trip there this year for me a surprise nominee for president just months from election day set in motion after a stunning debate look if we finally beat Medicare some within your own party are wondering if President Biden should even step aside what do you say that there was a slow start but it was a strong finish and then an extraordinary decision I've decided the best way forward is the pass the torch to a new generation Philadelphia what usually takes years of planning coming together in a matter of weeks Tim wall after a historic nomination at the convention in Chicago on behalf of everyone who story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth I accept your nomination to be president of the United States of America the Harris walls ticket is now pushing forward with the shortest presidential campaign in modern history what did you hear from voters here people are very optimistic we joined join them on the trail as they visited the battleground of Georgia just 68 days from the [Music] [Applause] election Madam vice president governor WS thank you so much for sitting down with me and bringing the bus the bus store is well underway here in Georgia you have less time to make your case to voters than any candidate in modern American history the voters are really eager to hear what your plans are if you are elected what would you do on day one in the white house well there are a number of things I will tell you first and foremost one of my highest priorities is to do what we can to support and strengthen the middle class um when I look at the aspirations the goals the Ambitions of the American people I think that um people are ready for a new way forward um in a way that generations of Americans have been fueled by by hope and by optimism I think sadly in the last decade um we have had in the former president someone who has really been pushing an agenda and an environment that is about diminishing um the character and the strength of who we are as Americans uh really dividing our nation and I think people are ready to turn the page on that so what would you do day one day one it's going to be about one implementing my plan for what I call an opportunity economy I've already laid out a number of um proposals in that regard which include what we're going to do to bring down um the cost of everyday Goods what we're going to do to invest in America's small businesses what we're going to do to invest in families for example extending the child tax credit to $6,000 for families for the first year of their child's life to help them buy a car seat to help them buy baby clothes a crib um there's the work that we're going to do that is about investing in the American family around affordable housing a big issue in our country right now so there are a number of things on day one what about you well I'm excited about this agenda too as I said the idea of uh inspiring America to what can be and I think many of these things that the vice president's proposing are are uh are things that we share in values in the child tax credit is one we know that reduces childhood poverty by a third we did it in Minnesota to have a federal partner in this um unbelievable I think in the impact that we can make you talked about you call it the opportunity uh economy you are well aware that right now many Americans are struggling there's a crisis of affordability one of your campaign themes is we're not going back but I wonder what you say to voters who do want to go back when it comes to the economy specifically because their groceries were less expensive housing was more affordable When Donald Trump was President well let's start with the fact that when Joe Biden and I came in office during the height of a pandemic we saw over 10 million jobs were lost uh people by I mean literally we were all tracking the numbers hundreds of people a day were dying because of covid um the economy had crashed uh in large part all of that because of mismanagement by Donald Trump of that crisis when we came in our highest priority was to do what we could to rescue America and today we know that we have inflation at under 3% a lot of our policies have led to the reality that America recovered faster than any wealthy Nation around the world but you are right prices in particular for groceries are still too high the American people know it I know it which is why my agenda includes what we need to do to bring down the price of groceries for example dealing with an issue like price gouging what we need to do to extend the child tax credit to help young families be able to take care of their children in their most formative years what we need to do to bring down the cost of housing my proposal includes what would be a tax credit of $25,000 for firsttime home buyers so they can just have enough to put a down payment on a home which is part of the American dream and their aspiration but do it in a way that allows them to actually get on the path to achieving that goal and that dream so you have been vice president for three and a half years the steps that you're talking about now why haven't you done them already well first of all we had to recover as an economy and we have done that I'm very proud of the work that we have done that has brought inflation down to less than 3% the work that we have done to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for seniors Donald Trump said he was going to do number of things including allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices never happened we did it so now and I as I travel in the state of Georgia and around our country the number of seniors that have benefited I've met I was in Nevada recently a a a grandmother who showed me her receipts and before we kept the cost of insulin for seniors at $35 a month she was playing hundreds of dollars up to thousands of dollars a month for her insulin she's not doing that anymore you maintain biomics is a success I maintain that when we do the work of bringing down prescription medication for the American people including capping the cost of the annual cost of prescription medication for seniors at $22,000 when we do what we did in the first year of being in office to extend the child tax credit so that we cut child poverty in America by over 50% when we do what we have done to invest in the American people and bringing manufacturing back to the United States so that we created over 800,000 new manufacturing jobs bringing business back to America what we have done to improve the supply chain so we're not relying on foreign governments to supply American families with their basic needs I'll say that that's good work there's more to do but that's good work I want to get some clarity on where you stand on some key policy issues uh energy is a big one when you were in Congress you supported the green New Deal and in 2019 you said quote there is no question I'm in favor of banning fracking fracking as you know is a pretty big issue particularly in your must-win state of Pennsylvania sure do you still want to ban fracking no and I made that clear on the debate stage in 2020 that I would not ban fracking as vice president I did not ban fracking as president I will not ban fracking in 2019 I believe uh in a town hall you said you were asked would you commit to implementing a federal ban on fracking on your first day in office and you said there's no question I'm in favor of banning fracking so yes so it changed in the in that campaign in 2020 I made very clear where I stand we are in 2024 and I've not changed that position nor will I going forward I kept my word and I will keep my word what made you change that position at the time well let's be clear my values have not changed I believe it is very important that we take seriously what we must do to guard against what is a clear crisis in terms of the climate and to do that we can do what we have accomplished thus far the inflation reduction act what we have done to invest by my calculation over probably a trillion over the next 10 years investing in a clean energy economy what we've already done creating over 300,000 new clean energy jobs that tells me from my experience as Vice President we can do it without Banning fraction in fact Dana Dana excuse me um I cast the tiebreaking vote that actually increased leases for fracking as vice president so I'm very clear about where I stand and was there some policy uh or scientific data that you saw that you said oh okay I get it now what I have seen is that we can we can grow and we can increase a thriving clean energy economy without Banning fracking okay um another issue big one is immigration as vice president you were tasked with addressing the root causes of migration uh uh in southern countries and northern part of Central America the northern part of of of of of Central America that deals with that affects the southern border of the US during the Biden Harris Administration there were record numbers of illegal border crossings why did the Biden Harris Administration wait three and a half years to implement sweeping Asylum restrictions well first of all uh the root causes work that I did as vice president that I was asked to do by the president has actually resulted in a number of benefits including historic Investments by American businesses in that region um the number of uh immigrants coming from that region has actually reduced um since we began that work but I will say this that Joe Biden and I in our Administration worked with members of the United States Congress on an immigration uh issue that is very significant to the American people and to our security which is the border and through bipartisan work including some of the most conservative members of the United States Congress a bill was crafted which we supported which I support and Donald Trump got word of this bill that would have contributed to securing our border and because he believes that it would not have helped him politically he he told his folks in Congress Don't Put It Forward he killed the bill a border security bill that would have put 1,500 more agents on the border and let me tell you something the border patrol endorsed the bill and I'm sure and I'm sure in large part because they knew they were working around the clock and 1,500 more agents would help them that bill would have allowed us to increase seizures of fentanyl ask any community in America that has been devastated by fentanyl what passing that bill would have done to address their concern and a pain that they've experienced so you would push that legislation again I just want to ask push it I will make sure that it comes to my desk and I would sign it just one other question about uh something that you said in 2019 when you first ran there was a debate you raised your hand when asked whether or not uh the Border should be decriminalized do you still believe that I believe there should be consequence we have laws that have to be followed and enforced that address and deal with people who cross our border illegally and there should be consequence and let's be clear in this race I'm the only person who has prosecuted transnational criminal organizations who trafficking guns drugs and human beings I'm the only person in this race who actually served a border state as attorney general to enforce our laws and I would enforce our laws as president going forward I recognize I the problem generally speaking how should voters look at some of the changes that you've made uh that you explained some of here uh in your policy is it because you have more experience now and you've learned more about the information is it because you were running for president in a Democratic primary and should they feel comfortable and confident that what you're saying now is going to be your policy moving forward Dana I think the the the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed you mentioned the green New Deal I have always believed and I have worked on it that the climate crisis is real that it is an urgent matter to which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time we did that with the inflation reduction act we have set goals for the United States St of America and by extension the globe around when we should meet certain standards for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as an example that value has not changed my value around what we need to do to secure our border that value has not changed I spent two terms as the Attorney General of California Prosecuting transnational criminal organizations violations of American laws regarding the passage illegal passage of guns drugs and human beings across our border my values have not changed so that is the reality of it and four years of being vice president I'll tell you one of the the the aspects to your point is traveling the country extensively I mean I'm here in Georgia I think somebody told me 17 times since I've been vice president in Georgia alone I believe it is important to build consensus and it is important to to to find a common place of understanding of where we can actually solve problems on that note you had a lot of rep speakers at the convention will you appoint a republican to your cabinet yes I would anyone in mind yes I would no no one in particular in mine I got a we got 68 days to go with this election so I'm not putting the cart before the horse but I would I think I think it's really important I I have spent my career inviting diversity of opinion I think it's important to have people at the table when some of the most important decisions are being made that have different views different experiences and I think um it would be to the benefit of the American public to have a member of my cabinet who was a republican that was just the start of our wide ranging conversation and we have some neverbe shared details about the phone call that changed everything between President Joe Biden and vice president kamla Harris I'm just curious staying on President Biden when he called you and said he was pulling out of the race what what was that like and did he offer to endorse you right away or did you ask for it it was um it was a Sunday so here I'll I'll give you a little too much information go for it there's no such thing Adam vice president and her running mate I asked him about some of the controversies that have sprung up since Harris put him on the ticket Governor WS the uh country is just starting to get to know you I want to ask uh a question about how you've described your service in the National Guard you said that you carried weapons in War but you have never deployed actually in a war zone a campaign official said that you misspoke did you as voters are getting to know kamla Harris they want answers on how she will make their lives better she heard that here at Sandfly barbecue in Savannah all we're going to do to increase access to capital for small businesses I'll be rolling out next week part of what we're going to be doing in terms of a tax credit on the trail she talks about her experience years in the courtroom as a district attorney and eventually California's attorney general she wants to reframe the contest as the prosecutor versus the Felon I know Donald Trump's type I've been dealing with them my whole career the former president is turning to A well-defined playbook of person attacks I didn't know she was black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn black and now she wants to be known as black and in just 12 days the nominees will meet face to face for the first time she's not a good debater she's not a smart person she doesn't want a debate if you got something to say say it to my face I want to ask you about your opponent Donald Trump um I was a little bit surprised people might be surprised to hear that you have never interacted with him met him face to face that's going to change soon but what I want to ask you about is what he said last month he suggested that you happened to turn black recently for political purposes questioning a core partk of your identity yeah any same old tired Playbook next question please that's it that's it okay let's talk about some foreign policy uh issues that would be on your plate if you become commander-in-chief President Biden has tried unsuccessfully uh to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza he's been doing it for months and months along with you would you do anything differently for example would you withhold some Us weapons shipments to Israel that's what a lot of people on the Progressive left want you to do uh let me be very clear I am unequivocal and and unwaver in in my commitment to Israel's defense and its ability to defend itself and that's not going to change but let's take a step back October 7 1,200 people were massacred many young people who were simply attending a music festival women were horribly raped as I said then I say today Israel had a right has a right to defend itself we would and how it does so matters far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed and we have got to get a deal done we we were in Doha we have to get a deal done this war must end and we must get a deal that is about getting the hostages out I've met with the families of the American hostages let's get the hostages out let's get the fire done but no change in policy in terms of arms and and so forth no I we have to get a deal done D Dana we have to get a deal done when you look at the significance of this to the families to the people who are living in that region um it a deal is not only the right thing to do to end this war but will unlock so much of what must happen next I remain committed since I've been on October eight to what we must do to work toward a two-state solution where Israel is secure and in equal measure the pal Palestinians have security and self-determination and and dignity Governor wals the uh country is just starting to get to know you I want to ask uh you a question about how you've described your service in the National Guard you said that you carried weapons in War but you have never deployed actually in a war zone a campaign official said that you misspoke did you well first of all I'm incredibly proud I've done 24 years of wearing uniform of this country equally proud of my service in a public school classroom whether it's Congress or uh or the governor uh my record speaks for itself but I think uh people are coming yet to know me I I speak like they do um I speak candidly I wear my emotions on my sleeves and uh I speak especially passionately about uh about our children being shot in schools and around around gun so uh I think people know me they know who I am they know where uh where my heart is and again my record has been out there for over 40 years to to speak for itself and the the idea that you said that you were in war did you misspeak as the campaign has said yeah I said we were talking about in this case this was after school shooting the ideas of carrying these weapons of war and uh my wife the English to my grammar is not always correct but again if it's not this it's an attack on my children for showing love for me or it's an attack on my dog uh I'm not going to do that and the one thing I'll never do is I'll never demean another member's service in any way I never have uh and I never will I just one other question because again this is all new yeah I mean this was not however many days ago this was not uh either of your bingo cards Especially Yours um you had to clarify uh that you had said that you and your wife used IVF but it turned out you used a different kind of fertility in order to uh have children and then when you ran for congress in 2006 your campaign repeatedly made false statements about a 1995 arrest for drunk and reckless driving what do you say to voters who aren't sure whether they can take you at your word well I've been very public I think they can see uh my students come out uh former folks I've served with and and they do they vouch for me I certainly own my mistakes when I make them the one thing I'll tell you is of um I wished in this country wouldn't have to do this I spoke about are infertility issues cuz it's hell and families know this and I I spoke about the treatments that were available to us that that had those beautiful children there um that's quite a contrast in folks that are trying to uh to take those rights away from us and so uh I uh I think people know who I am they know that record they've seen that I've taught thousands of students I've been out there and um I I won't apologize for speaking passionately whether it's guns in schools or protecting of Reproductive Rights uh the contrast could not be clear between what we're running against the vice president's position on this has been clear and um I think most Americans get it if you've been through that um I don't think they're cutting hairs on IVF or IUI I think they're cutting hairs on is an abortion ban and the ability to be able to deny families the chance to have a beautiful child up next the moment that changed everything when kamla Harris got a phone call from President Biden that he was dropping out of the race it was um it was a Sunday so here I'll I'll give you a little too much information go for it there's no such thing Madam vice president um my family was staying with us and um including my baby nieces speaking of those baby nieces the Vice President also opens up about a viral picture from the convention that meant so much to so many and Tim Walls talks about that convention moment with his son that brought many viewers to tears you were speaking the camera caught him so incredibly proud of you so emotional saying that's my dad yeah I uh I don't know as a father I could have ever imagined that Georgia and our exclusive interview with the Democratic presidential and vice presidential nominees vice president kamla Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walls it's hard to believe it was just 39 days ago President Biden shocked the world via tweet that's how we found out he was dropping his re-election bid but before he tweeted the news Biden called his vice president and for the first time we are hearing about that phone call and exactly what kamla Harris was doing when she answered but we started this discussion with the moment that set all of this in motion CNN's presidential debate and whether President Biden was strong enough to lead this nation again vice president Harris you were a very staunch defender of President Biden's capacity to serve and another four years right after the debate you insisted that President Biden is extraordinarily strong given where we are now do you have any regrets about what you told the American people no not at all not at all I have um served with President Biden um for almost four years now and I'll tell you it's one of the greatest honors of my career truly um he cares so deeply about the American people he is so smart and um and loyal to the American people and I have spent hours upon hours with him be it in the Oval Office or The Situation Room he has the intelligence the commitment and the Judgment um and disposition that I think the American people rightly deserve in their president by contrast the former president has none of that and so um one I I I am so proud to have served as vice president to Joe Biden and two I am so proud to be running with Tim Walls for president of the United States and to bring America what I believe the American people deserve which is a new way forward and turn the page on the last decade of what I believe has been um contrary to where the spirit of our country really lies but the last decade of course the three and a half years has been part of your Administration I'm talking about an era that started about a decade ago where there is some suggestion warped I believe it to be that the measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you beat down instead of where I believe most Americans are which is to believe that the true measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up that's what's at stake as much as any other detail that we could discuss in this election um because we haven't had a chance to to talk I'm just curious staying on President Biden when he called you and said he was pulling out of the race what was that like and did he offer to endorse you right away or did you ask for it it was um it was a Sunday so here I'll I'll give you a little too much information go for it there's no such thing Adam vice president um my family was staying with us and um including my baby nieces and we had just had pancakes and you know Auntie can I have more bacon yes I'll make you more bacon and then we were going to S we were sitting down to to do a puzzle and the phone rang and it was Joe Biden and um and he told me what he had decided to do and [Music] um I asked him are you sure and he said yes and um but that's how I learned about it and what about the endorsement did you ask for it and he was very clear that he was going to support me so when he called to tell you he said I'm pulling out of the race and I'm going to support you well my first thought was not about me to be honest with you my first thought was about him to be honest um I think history is going to show a number of things about Joe Biden's presidency I think history is going to show that in so many ways it was transformative be it on what we have accomplished around finally investing in America's infrastructure investing in new economies in new Industries what we have done to bring our allies back together and have confidence in who we are as America and grow that Alliance what we have done to stand true to our principles um including the the one of the most important International rules and Norms which is the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity and I think history is going to show not only has Joe Biden LED an Administration that has achieved those extraordinary successes but the character of the man is one that he has been in his life and career including as a president selfless and puts the American people first a passionate defense of the man who chose her to be his running mate four years ago four years later Harris made a choice of her own and with Governor Wall's rise to National prominence a star was born at the convention Gus walls we'll hear about that moment between Father and Son and the woman who could make history in the Oval Office on this iconic photo Madam vice president the photograph that has gone viral you were speaking one of your grand nieces that you were just talking about was watching you accept the nomination you didn't explicitly talk about gender or race in your speech but it obviously means a lot to a lot of people and that Viral picture really says it what does it mean to you and our CNN exclusive interview with vice president kamla Harris and her running mate who was supposed to be if you listened to some experts a big name a prominent leader from a swing state Pennsylvania or Arizona but it is a little known guy outside of his home state where Minnesota nice is a source of Pride but behind all of that folksy humor and flannel Tim Walls is far from just being Mr Nice Guy when it comes to needling Donald Trump Governor you obviously have spoken to voters all over your state for years what do you learning in a place like Georgia we're seeing explosion in small business growth the one thing is is Workforce and child care because workers have to have child care campaigning with Tim Walls don't do it finding his role in this historic campaign would you be my running mate and let's get this thing on the road I would be honored Madam vice president after bursting onto the national stage with this word these guys are just weird known as a folky father of two from Rural America now a running mate who is not holding back listen to the guy he's talking about Hannibal Lecter and shocking sharks and just whatever crazy thing pops into his mind and finding his own rhythm with his new boss brisket and greens and mac and cheese what about you I had the brisket and cold saw on this and what about the spice situation the Tabasco what's happening with that I'm going to let him speak for himself the vice president's growing peppers at her residence so she's trying to like bring me along on this you know motans uh it's okay I'm getting there it's all okay you just do you I just have to ask you both about two standout moments aside of course from the addresses that you both gave but standout moments that were perhaps unexpected during the convention you mentioned one of them Governor uh a moment that you shared that the world shared with your son Gus you were speaking the camera caught him so incredibly proud of you so emotional saying that's my dad yeah I uh I don't know as a father I could have ever imagined that I grateful for so many reasons to be on this ticket but that moment um to understand what was really important to to have my son uh feel a sense of pride in me that I was trying to do the right thing and uh it was um you you try and protect your kids you know it brings it brings notoriety in things but it was just such a uh a visceral emotional moment moment that I'm I'm just I'm grateful I got to experience it and I'm uh I'm so proud of him I'm proud of him I'm proud of hope I'm proud of Gwen she's a wonderful mother and these are great kids and I think the one thing is talking about the era we're in is our politics can be better it can be different we can we can show some of these things and we can have families involved in this and I I hope that there was uh I hope people felt that out there and I hope they hug their kids a little tighter because you just never know and life can be kind of hard and last question uh Madam vice president the photograph that has gone viral you were speaking one of your grand nieces that you were just talking about was watching you accept the nomination you didn't explicitly talk about gender or race in your speech but it obviously means a lot to a lot of people and that Viral picture really says it what does it mean to you you know I listen I am running because I believe that I am the best person to do this job at this moment um for all Americans regardless of race and gender um but I did see that photograph and I was deeply touched by it and you're right she's it's the back of her head her tool braids and um and then I'm in the front of the photograph obviously speaking and um it's very humbling it's very humbling in many ways did she talk to you about it afterwards oh she had a lot to talk about yeah she had a lot she listened to everything and she listens to everything give you your hot cake oh yeah definitely uhhuh Madame vice president governor walls thank you so much for your time appreciate it for thank you Dan thank you this was vice president Harris's first real unscripted setting where voters could see and hear her explain some of her policy positions now and how they differ from before she became vice president and why oh