Chris Matthews: Harris should stress she's 'not a member of the Squad'

Pundit Chris Matthews is encouraging Vice President Harris to distance herself from the policies of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party as she runs for president this fall.

Matthews, during an appearance on MSNBC early Monday, said Harris should lean into her personal story, saying “she has a chance to say, 'Here's who I am. I am a daughter of an Indian immigrant, a Jamaican immigrant, and I had a tiger mother. And I went to Howard.'"

"Why did you decide to go to Howard, why don't you identify with the African American history in this country? People want to know," Matthews added.

Harris, Matthews said, should also make it clear that she is "not a member of the Squad," a reference to a group of liberal House lawmakers including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).

Matthews said Harris should stress that she is "not somebody on the hard left," and tout her experience as a prosecutor and belief in the law, "not just for Donald Trump," referring to the former president and GOP nominee.

The pundit added that Harris should note that she wants to see the law enforced in "big cities" and that she is "not some George Soros DA in Philly."

"I think she has to work two ends.”

Harris was backed by President Biden on Sunday as he bowed out of the presidential race, with the vice president in the hours since collecting a growing number of endorsements from leading Democratic governors and other prominent members of the party.