Sen. Kamala Harris also defended her law enforcement background while embracing progressive causes during a town hall in Iowa hosted by CNN. | Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo 2020 Elections Harris turns tables on gender question

Can a woman beat Donald Trump in 2020?

Kamala Harris, in her first visit to Iowa for a town hall hosted by CNN, was asked a variation of the question.


The California Democrat would eventually get to her answer. But in one of several demonstrations of her discipline on the trail, the presidential hopeful first took the opportunity to plunge into what she views as the most important — and real — contrasts between herself and Trump.

Harris — basing her campaign on the themes of truth and decency — said voters will make their decision based on who they believe is telling the truth and who is doing it in a way that gives people dignity and elevates public discourse, versus bringing the country to the lowest common denominator and base instincts.

As for the original question, the senator said she’s never listened to her doubters, of whom there were many when she ran for district attorney in San Francisco and attorney general of California.

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“I’ve heard people say when I ran, and ran as the first woman who would win: ‘People aren’t ready. It’s not your time. Nobody like you has done that before,’” Harris said. “I haven’t listened, and I would suggest that nobody should listen to that kind of conversation.”

And when questions came to how she would debate Trump, Harris said she would “speak like a leader” rather than “inciting fear.”

Harris’ stop in Des Moines came a day after she launched her campaign with a speech to more than 20,000 in her native Oakland. At the town hall, she showed flashes of how she plans to appeal to smaller audiences in the first caucus state, restating questioners’ names and standing up and approaching a young immigrant who asked about a program protecting immigrants brought to the country as children hefrom deportation.

During the event, Harris defended her law enforcement background and embraced progressive ideas like the "Green New Deal," which is aimed at addressing economic inequality and climate change.

Moderator Jake Tapper asked whether "Medicare for all" legislation, which she supports, would mean people who prefer private insurance plans wouldn't be able to keep them.

Harris pointed to scenarios in which patients are made to wait for insurer approvals even when their physicians believe they need treatment.

“Let’s eliminate all of that,” she said. “Let’s move on.”