Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, is facing scrutiny for her limited press engagements and lack of substantive answers to policy questions. As she prepares for her first campaign interview with CNN anchor Dana Bash on Thursday night, alongside Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Republicans have been vocal in their criticism.
Harris has been accused of avoiding the press for 38 days, a stark contrast to former President Donald Trump, who has held multiple press conferences and participated in interviews across various media outlets. While Trump and Harris are scheduled to meet for a televised debate on September 10, the lack of detailed policy pronouncements from Harris has raised concerns among her critics.
The upcoming interview has reignited memories of Harris’ previous appearances, including a 2021 discussion with NBC’s Lester Holt. During that interview, Harris drew criticism for her response to a question about not visiting the Mexican border, stating, “And I haven’t been to Europe, I don’t understand the point that you’re making. I’m not discounting the importance of the border.” This moment went viral on social media, further fueling Republican criticisms.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board, following Harris’ speech at the Democratic National Convention, noted that her presentation was “confident, optimistic, [but] mostly devoid of policy substance.” The editorial board questioned whether Harris could maintain this approach for the remainder of the campaign, concluding that it would determine her fate in the presidential race.
Despite the criticism, Harris has garnered support from high-profile surrogates on the campaign trail. Kerry Kennedy, sister of former independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who endorsed Trump, has joined the Harris campaign, offering vocal support. Kennedy has appeared with labor activist Dolores Huerta, who shared a stage with Robert F. Kennedy Sr. the night he was assassinated.
The Republican vice presidential nominee, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, has also commented on Harris’ limited press interactions. Vance, in a lighthearted remark, told reporters he wanted to see Harris’ plane and ask her why she “refuse[s] to answer questions from the media.” Vance noted that he, at least, has “enough respect for you all and for the American people to come and talk to you and answer questions.”
The inclusion of Walz in the upcoming interview has also attracted criticism on social media. OutKick founder Clay Travis commented, “Kamala Harris is doing a joint interview with Tim Walz on Thursday. She legit can’t do an interview by herself.” Minnesota Republican strategist Dustin Grage echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Walz is a “better communicator than Kamala Harris” and highlighting the pre-recorded nature of the interview, indicating the need for support due to Harris’ perceived communication challenges.
In an effort to garner support, Harris and Walz embarked on a bus tour through South Georgia, aiming to mobilize voters in the region. While the area leans Republican, the campaign hopes to attract more voters to their side. Georgia has become a key battleground state in recent years, with Democrats flipping both U.S. Senate seats in recent elections. However, former President Trump has engaged in public criticism of Georgia’s GOP Gov. Brian Kemp, despite Kemp’s popularity. Trump has stressed the importance of Georgia in the upcoming election, stating that a win there is “so important to the success of our party and most importantly our country.”
As the campaign progresses, the spotlight remains on Harris and her ability to articulate her policies and engage with the media. Her first campaign interview with CNN will offer a platform for her to address these concerns and connect with voters on a more personal level. Only time will tell if this interview will be a turning point in her campaign.
