WASHINGTON -- Nearly a week after verbal stumbles in the only vice presidential debate, Democrat Tim Walz used his debut campaign appearance on a Sunday news show to try to fend off criticism of his stand on abortion rights and “own up” to past misstatements.The interview on “Fox News Sunday” reflected a broader media blitz by presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate as the Democrats seek to garner public attention in the final 30 days of the campaign against Republicans Donald Trump and JD Vance.Harris has taped an interview with CBS' “60 Minutes" that will air Monday night.She is booked Tuesday on Howard Stern's satellite radio show, ABC's “The View” and “The Late Show" with Stephen Colbert on CBS.
Her interview on the podcast “Call Her Daddy" is scheduled to be released later Sunday.Walz will be on Jimmy Kimmel's ABC show on Monday.Walz's Fox appearance also touched on the turmoil in the Middle East, with anchor Shannon Bream pressing the Minnesota governor on whether Israel has a right to preemptively attack Iran's nuclear and oil facilities in response to Tehran's firing of missiles against Israel.
It was a question that Walz did not fully answer during his debate this past week with Vance, an Ohio senator.Walz said Sunday that "specific operations will be dealt with at the time.” He said Israel has a right to defend itself and that Harris worked with Israel this past week to repel the Iranian attack.President Joe Biden said last week he would not support an Israeli strike on sites related to Tehran’s nuclear program.Walz defended a law that he signed as governor to ensure abortion protections, saying it "puts this puts the decision with the woman and her health care providers.” He questioned the statement by Trump that he would not sign a national abortion ban into law.On the economy, Walz said Harris' proposals would make life more affordable for the middle class by helping with the construction of 3 million new homes...