HANOVER — For Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., campaigning isn’t about persuading voters to accept her ideas or making promises that might appeal to a core base.
Instead, the first-term senator turned presidential candidate said on Tuesday that the path to the White House is an exercise in trust building. And that exercise begins with telling voters the truth.
“For those of us who speak often behind a microphone or behind a podium, there is an incentive that we will engage in happy talk, that we will make everyone feel lovely, we will sprinkle lovely dust all over the road, people will applaud and a job will have been done,” Harris told a crowd of about 440 people gathered to see her inside Dartmouth College’s Alumni Hall. “Well, speaking the truth doesn’t accomplish that goal.”
Harris, a former attorney general of California, said she prefers difficult conversations because even though they might turn away some voters, at least people will know she’s being honest.
“I believe this is a moment in time where we must speak truth,” Harris told the crowd.
Those truths include the existence of racism, anti-Semitism, trans- and homophobia, as well as climate change and its effects on the planet.
Harris also said it’s clear that “the economy of America is not working for working people,” citing statistics that say almost half of the nation’s families cannot afford a $400 unexpected expense.
Most of those working full time on country’s $7.25 minimum wage cannot afford rent for a single-family apartment, and millions of people rely on high-interest payday loans to make ends meet, she said.
To combat economic instability, Harris proposes creating a $6,000 tax credit for families making under $100,000 a year. The $500 monthly stipend would benefit about half of American families and two-thirds of children.
“But then of course, you all can imagine, there are others who present a question: ‘How are you going to pay for it?’ ” Harris said in a mocking, shrill voice. “Well I will tell you how we are going to pay for it. On day one, we’re going to repeal (the Trump tax cuts).”
Harris then touted her plan to boost teacher salaries, saying educators often are paid too little compared with graduates that instead go into private-sector work.
The plan, which would be funded through real estate taxes, would provide the average New Hampshire teacher with a $13,500 raise, reducing turnover and attracting more people to the field, Harris said.
“Let’s be clear, there are two groups of people raising our children: parents — often with the assistance of grandparents, and aunties and uncles — and our teachers,” Harris said. “We are not paying them their value when we know that teachers in our country on average make 10 percent less than similar college-educated professions.”
Harris did not say whether her plan would aid teachers only in struggling districts or well-funded ones such as the Dresden School District. Just a few blocks south of where she was speaking is Hanover High School, where the average teacher made $74,567 last year, according to the New Hampshire Department of Education.
That’s about $21,500 more than the state average, and almost $28,000 more than the average teacher in Claremont, which has struggled to fund its public schools.
The senator also promised to take action on gun control, first by encouraging Congress to pass legislation within her first 100 days in office and then by turning to executive actions. Those measures would include mandating that anyone selling more than five firearms a year perform background checks, and revoking the licenses of gunmakers and dealers who sell and market to criminals and children.
“And I’ll tell you quite honestly: I’m kind of fed up with this issue,” she said, adding that lawmakers can no longer sit aside and do nothing.
Harris’ campaign stop was well-attended by Dartmouth students and area residents, who lined up from the Hanover Inn down to the intersection of East Wheelock and Crosby streets waiting to get in. Hanover Deputy Fire Chief Michael Hinsley later estimated about 400 people were denied entry because the space reached its occupancy limit.
While many people said they were excited to see Harris, few had decided who they will vote for in the upcoming primary.
“The field is so wide and broad now that I have not even formed an opinion yet,” said Bob McCarthy, a Grantham resident and former co-chair of the town’s Democratic committee.
“It’s an excellent field, but it might be too broad and wide. I hope it filters down to some manageable (number) of candidates,” he said.
There were 20 declared Democratic candidates at press time, and former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to officially announce his campaign on Thursday.
Thetford resident Annelise Orleck said that while she supported Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., during the 2016 primary, she’s open to listening to others this year.
“I’m very interested in a number of people in the race; Harris is one,” Orleck said, adding that she saw the senator speak at the Women’s March.
Meanwhile, Dartmouth freshman Marcy Toppan said she’s hoping to hear candidates speak about women’s issues, including maintaining access to abortion.
“To hear candidates’ opinions on that is pretty important to me to understand if they would support Roe v. Wade,” she said.
Tim Camerato can be reached at tcamerato@vnews.com or 603-727-3223.