PITTSBURGH — Kamala Harris vowed in an economic speech Wednesday that she would govern as a pragmatist and not allow herself to be seduced by ideology. At the same time, she announced around $100 billion in new investments in the manufacturing industry, a key issue in this swing state.

Harris proposed an “America Forward” agenda that would include tax breaks to stimulate investment and job creation in industry, as well as investments in artificial intelligence, science and energy development, and promote products made in the United States.

“This plan will cost approximately $100 billion and will be funded with a portion of the revenue from international tax reform. The goal of this reform is to prevent a global race to the bottom and to prevent inversions, outsourcing or international tax strategies by companies that do not want to pay their fair share to the United States,” says a Harris campaign fact sheet.

Harris also called for a reduction in the red tape surrounding construction in the United States and advocated the elimination of “unnecessary” college degrees as a requirement for various public service jobs, a policy that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has implemented in the swing state.

“I promise you that I will be pragmatic in my approach,” Harris told a packed crowd. “Because I believe we should not be constrained by ideology, but instead seek practical solutions to problems.”

“I am a capitalist. I believe in free and fair markets,” she said.

The Democratic vice president, who has faced criticism for remaining cautious on a range of policy issues, sought to portray herself as a middle-class candidate while portraying her Republican rival, Donald Trump, as a candidate of the billionaire class. Her speech barely touched on any new policy details, instead emphasizing the broad contrast she seeks to advance.

“Donald Trump has no intention of lowering costs for the middle class. In fact, his economic program would actually raise prices,” she said, citing bipartisan economists who have studied Trump’s plans for aggressive tariffs.

The speech is an attempt by Harris to neutralize Trump’s lead on who would best handle the economy and lower the cost of living, issues that are consistently among the most important to voters. Her campaign has already had success with voters on handling the economy. According to a new NBC News poll, Trump’s lead over Joe Biden shrank from 22 points to 9 points over Harris in January. For undecided voters in swing states like Pennsylvania, this could be decisive.

Voters in Pennsylvania react to Harris’ speech

Economic concerns have been a burden for Democrats throughout the 2024 campaign as inflation rose in the global economy following the pandemic. Republicans tried to shift the blame to Democrats at home, arguing that it was fueled by the big spending bills signed by President Joe Biden. And while domestic economic policies can have reverberating effects, the supply chains that led to higher prices owe at least part to global economic conditions.

Before he dropped out of the race in July, Biden tried to take charge of the economy, betting that things would improve by Election Day and that voters would reward him for his accomplishments. Harris has delivered a different message: She recognizes that the economic hardship is still too great and is focusing her new plans on easing the pressure of high costs on the middle class. Overall, Harris has not dramatically deviated from Biden in her policies.

Trump has tried to portray his economic policies as a solution to Democrats’ problems, focusing heavily on tax cuts and tariffs as a panacea while making big promises about lowering energy costs. When asked how he plans to cut costs and address issues like child care, he struggled.

Trump also sought to define Harris not by the moderate positions of her 2024 campaign, but by the left-leaning views of her failed bid for the Democratic nomination in 2020.

Voters who attended Harris’ speech expressed confusion that other Americans see Trump as good for the economy.

“I don’t understand how you can trust someone who constantly lies,” said Angela Garcia, who lives in a Pittsburgh suburb and attended the speech in person on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh retiree Susan Bails pointed out that inflation due to the pandemic is “a global phenomenon” and that she, too, has suffered because she is on a fixed income.

“I really can’t understand why anyone thinks Republicans are good at the economy,” Bails said, adding that the last few Republican presidents – Trump and George W. Bush – have increased the budget deficit and left the economy in shambles.

Denise Meyers, a 74-year-old Harris supporter who attended the speech, pointed to Trump’s anti-union stance to argue that he is bad for the middle class. “I don’t think he’s good for the American economy, despite all his bankruptcies,” Meyers added. “I feel like he’s lost touch with reality. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.”

Regarding Harris, Meyers said: “I think she has good economic ideas to strengthen and help the middle class.”

Harris touted her plans to expand the child tax credit, lower the price of housing, food and prescription drugs, and expand tax breaks for small businesses. She also said she would “invest in our industrial strength” and counter China’s global strength. She said that includes supporting factory towns – many in that region have suffered economically in recent decades.

She said she would work with Congress and businesses to reform the permitting process and cut red tape to boost job creation.

“My opponent, Donald Trump, makes big promises on manufacturing,” she said. “Under Trump’s leadership, offshoring increased and manufacturing jobs were lost across our country… He was constantly outsmarted by China.”