Harris is borrowing from 'Republican playbook' as she leads Trump in new national poll

• Kamala Harris is embracing some stances traditionally owned by Republicans, pollster Frank Luntz said.
• Harris "is beginning to cut through," Luntz said, citing a New York Times/Siena College poll.
• That new poll found the Democratic nominee is leading Trump for the first time since President Joe Biden dropped out of the election contest.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris is embracing some of the Republican Party's old standbys as her own as she gains ground on her GOP rival, former President Donald Trump, pollster Frank Luntz said Tuesday.

Harris "is taking pages out of the Republican playbook," Luntz said on CNBC's "Squawk Box."

The political strategist meant that as a compliment to the vice president.

He credited Harris for what he called her "important use of language," pointing to her focus on small business issues and describing herself as a capitalist. He also noted her party's emphasis on freedom during the Democratic National Convention.

"If you just listen to these general statements, she actually sounds like a moderate Republican," Luntz said.

"So the challenge for the Trump campaign is to just stop with these incessant character attacks, and challenge her on the specific issues and her claims," he said.

"Because, let me tell you something, going to The New York Times' most recent poll, she is beginning to cut through," he added.

That poll from The Times and Siena College, released Tuesday, found Harris leading Trump nationally for the first time since President Joe Biden dropped out of the election as the presumptive Democratic nominee in mid-July.

The poll of 3,385 likely voters surveyed from Sept. 29 to Sunday gave Harris a slight edge of 49% to 46% over Trump, within the poll's