Governor Josh Shapiro on Sunday that Vice President Kamala Harris must be the one to explain why she no longer seeks a ban on fracking in Pennsylvania, but claimed he believes she is genuine in her policy reversal.
While Harris promised to ban fracking during her abortive presidential campaign in 2019, her campaign has insisted the Democrat will not attack fracking during her 2024 candidacy as she seeks to repeat President Joe Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania, and Shapiro told “Firing Line” host Margaret Hoover he is convinced by the vice president’s change of heart.
“I think Kamala Harris’ views on this issue have changed,” said Shapiro, calling it “a sign of strength,” and claiming Harris dropped her opposition to fracking after, “she listened to people.”
When pressed on whether Harris genuinely changed her position on fracking, or adopted a more politically convenient view as she looks to secure the votes of Pennsylvanians, Shapiro acknowledged he has not discussed fracking with the vice president.
“We have not had a direct conversation about this issue in particular,” said Shapiro, instead offering his “interpretation” of why she changed her views.
He explained, “I think what is clear to me, this is my interpretation, is that she’s listened and she has seen the power of natural gas, the power that our sources domestically here in the United States have in strengthening our economy and our national security.”
PA Gov Josh Shapiro is asked why Kamala Harris flipped her energy positions
He tries to invent reasons why she changed her views, but when asked if there's a "believable" reason she changed other than political expediency, he says that Harris has to explain herself@ElonMusk pic.twitter.com/SezKBUAlkT
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) October 20, 2024
After Hoover asked Shapiro to explain why voters should share this view, the governor said Harris must explain the reversal herself.
“I think that’s on the vice president to explain her rationale,” said Shapiro.
The governor then accused former President Donald Trump of changing his positions on other issues, while Harris merely, “has a policy issue that she has evolved on.”
Shapiro’s confirmation he did not discuss fracking with Harris comes after he was considered to become her vice presidential nominee, with Harris instead selecting Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota after it was noted that Shapiro’s support for Israel could hurt Democrats among Muslim voters, and after Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) urged the Harris campaign against selecting the Keystone State’s governor.
Despite their public feud, Fetterman has likewise minimized the importance of Harris’ past desire to ban fracking to Pennsylvania voters, declaring questions about the subject “strange” in a September interview.
“It’s so strange why we just keep talking about fracking,” said Fetterman. “It’s going to be very close in Pennsylvania and it’s not going to be defined by fracking.”
A September poll found 68 percent of Pennsylvania voters support using fracking to reach deposits of oil and natural gas, while just 19 percent opposed the practice and 13 percent who did not offer an opinion.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Image “Josh Shapiro interviewed by WUCF” by Firing Line / PBS.
