Transcript for Sen. Kamala Harris tackled questions on gender at Iowa town hall

Now we can't see has announced she's running for president senator com slash Harris is already climbing up the poles and closing in on front runner Joseph Biden. She was asked him at first I would town hall yesterday about people who saint that's gonna take that guy candidate. To win the White House and here's what she said it. The people who vote the people of this country are smarter than that. They're gonna make decisions based on who they believe is the best leader. They're gonna make decisions based on who they believe the speaking truth in my entire career I've heard people say when I ran an end and ran as the first woman who would win. It's not. People are ready it's not your time nobody like you has done that before I haven't listened and I would suggest that nobody's and listen to that kind of car she said. So it is that the right way to go into this all our. Deserve better way to handle it did she answer the question. You now. I don't think you can ignore the possibility. That people in this country will not vote for a woman. Based on experience we think that we just vote put in office a reality star who is like Frederick Douglass was a lot. Yeah yeah. And and then men in huge numbers voted for him and I think that they will do it again the men. Now the women are another story. I mean but Shirley Chisholm very famously said that she experienced was. Martin discrimination as a woman than she did as a black woman who's been so I'm not charming every other country Israel had a woman Pakistan India and New Zealand's inland Germany and the list goes on a not only a week. Cannot see our way through the Masada today in this country. Which is set because she's really got. I don't know I'm just I'm just craving stability restored back this country can't I don't care who it is out care they're black or white or Indian or male or female. I'm so sick of what divides us the look brings us together and what her message is what she told us on the shell out I'm not surprised at all that. Her poll numbers have gone up because when she lefty are wasn't thinking. That's a black you woman perhaps I was thinking that as someone who talked about when you get up in the morning you don't think about what you're ready to familiar to give up putting in on the table for your family and whoever's advising Ers doing a good job but and tell a woman can actually win. Idol could pretty get past this whole can a woman actually ever went for president. Now I mean. I don't know I've I think that. I know we see the fact that someone that is running is it is a woman I see that as a positive actually I don't see it as as a negative. And I don't think it's a matter of that someone is a woman I think it's it's a matter how you shrieked. The fact that the person is a woman because if you look at this. The stats women in that are in politics actually. Do very well only you know women that are there are content congress I think passed twice as many bills as women that are. That that that men then men that are and congress so. I I don't think you can ignore it up but I think that you can turn it into a positive. So I don't know I live like that she's just sort of sit I'm not gonna. Addressed it I think the better thing is sort of turning it on its head and looking after that. The conversation about their weights debate feminism and whether or wanting to become president is one that's been going on sat for for. Even before Hillary Clinton I made was the biggest fan Carly Fiorina as she's up to my first waste. When all the tapes were coming out in 2016. And gender really has nothing and it almost to my detriment I don't look at if you're wanting you don't automatically get my boat and and I don't think it was that America wasn't ready for a woman think America didn't like Hillary Clinton it's actually pretty impressive to lose to a reality show candidate given how much experience she got that's how much of a plot candidate she as they think it tell us as women comes the table and say which I'm very impressed she's doing. I don't let cities kind of boundaries I'm a candidate for president I linked to the front runner right now. Right now and Joseph Biden as an officially gotten in and I'll be interested to see how they do. But I think messaging is really tight the thing that turned me off of that town hall was when she was talking about Medicare it's her policy is the might be what ultimately turns NAFTA has nothing to do with her gender one way or another. And I think it's actually were docked did. To gives the American public that we are not ready to hop a woman elected president I just don't think they wanted Hillary Clinton. Yeah and she says that would she's here she's like oh. We don't give that the American people enough credit. Because I think people can see past just with their gender is and what their skin color is and I think they're more Americans than not that are willing to see past all that. I think it's our own fault first inning that they can't win in stage three million more people voted for Hillary what you know as they did think that three million more accurate than. PG millions it goes crazy when I say this right now not only did every number is now the electoral college and I but not ever going creep its she was more popular event with with with voters if you're saying that like so. Now in theory I guessed that it wouldn't bet her gender at what about her policies she was a plot of the Hannity and had to do also with Russian intervention that's another reason I don't I don't wanna we'll litigate Bartlett isn't into just because I got my attempts but let me not say that Sheen was unpopular is. It's really very iffy whether she was unpopular with the majority of the people in this country it was well they might seem I was elected because she's. Woman or I don't know I don't think it was that the heart you know that data nightly news center line and well I just think that she's got the right idea I mean. You know as a person of color people know we'll let you forget it sounds like I know I'm black I know. I do yeah. It's not like that was something else domestics behind you when you landed a whole time you know so I think that strategy and is like listen. Yes I'm a black woman you concede that this I'm a woman of Pollock that's what I should say I'm a woman of color. Blatt. This woman caller has done XY XYZ XYZ XYZ MMX. The road I'm going on now not take me down what you think I didn't do break but it will have nothing to do. With the fact I'm a woman in a woman of color 'cause I can do this job at just like I did that job she's I don't I I like our. I don't blame the median of for asking that question. About being a woman because he got to think about where we're history fact we still haven't had a woman president not liking it a legitimate question but it's how I answer it how you handle it I think so far. We'll see how this continues play out but so far she's. Handled these questions Jerry well usually wrong I don't launching an idea and I but she was very easy showing on great personality Sarah got. Atlanta has many miles it's very likely what you wrote I don't Obama I'm excited about is a policy debate is actually making it actually between Republicans are never Tron and piracy and that being about Carter got used sit policy but you learn first is whether you like tribal identity politics. That's an election I would what I Bob what do let the product out campaign was at his policies did not. They're necessary lineup with what he was saying when we don't know what you would put her cow palace it was her talent is not to go so far in my opinion it's not go so far -- -- so are socialists the U alienate independents and the Rust Belt acquisition isn't isn't released specific democratic talking about Medicare for all bad example of the popular concept right now playing at silly funny you bring that up 56% of Americans initially support it Intel if they are told that it's a government run system that could lead to delays in getting higher taxes and then support plunged to 26% respectively according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Meaning like the VA there would be delays and people are all quarry in theory and telecoms. I did actually right well we had something that was Connor work him. A full arm. So maybe we try to make me mad Vannatter insurance and I don't ask isn't out not allowed just trying to light hair all done than just like you know bush said no taxes read my legs everybody makes a misstep. But the concept of what he was doing well so was not exactly what's I think I know wanted to present to get IA is totally get that. And that is why it's called the view.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.