WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vice President Kamala Harris back-peddling on her fracking policies is affecting other Democrats’ races, too.
Ohio Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown — the man at the center of the United State’s most important (and most expensive) election outside the presidency this year — was cornered by Fox News and asked about Harris’ decision to remove her support from nationwide fracking bans in an unusually awkward moment for the battle-tested legislator.
“My focus is on my state and my work,” a flustered Brown mumbled on his way toward an elevator. “I’ve endorsed Vice President Harris … I don’t know what she said on fracking.”
Brown is known to be close with President Joe Biden, whose current semi-retirement has made the senator’s tight re-election chances even tighter.
“Sherrod Brown is in lockstep with San Francisco liberal Kamala Harris on all of her radical policies, including a complete ban on fracking,” Brown’s opponent, Republican business owner Bernie Moreno, told The Post.
“Brown and Harris would rather rely on our adversaries for energy instead of using our resources here at home. In November, Ohioans will reject their radical, anti-energy agenda,” he added.
Brown, who has voted several times in favor of fracking bans, must now either reverse his own course to join Harris and help her pursue voters in emerging energy states like Pennsylvania and Ohio who rely on fracking, or hold fast to his well-documented beliefs.
“The point is they’ve both supported fracking bans – Harris can try and flip flop now, but her stance is well documented,” a spokesperson for Moreno added. “We know they both want to ban it. But Bernie will always support Fracking.”
Moreno is not the only prominent Republican to smell blood in the water right now either.
“Kamala Harris wants to ban fracking and buy energy from every dictator around the world. Donald Trump wants to drill baby drill,” another Ohio senator, and Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance said today at a rally in Arizona.
“Do we want to ban fracking,” he bellowed to the crowd who shouted back an enthusiastic, “NO!”
It’s been a tough week for Republicans in the polls as the nation adjusts to a tumultuous two weeks of impactful shakeups.
Harris has closed most of her significant gaps in the swing states and is looking to draw more white men into her camp — a demographic she may need desperately to win in November.
By backpedaling on her 2020 promise to ban fracking nationwide, Harris is looking to keep her popularity scores going up, even if it costs her some credibility.
And the GOP seems perfectly happy to help her get that message out.