Three weeks ago, shortly after being officially designated as the Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris was questioned about her plans for a significant interview. “I’ve talked to my team,” she informed reporters on the Detroit airport tarmac. “I want us to get an interview scheduled before the end of the month.”
On Thursday night, Ms. Harris will fulfill that promise, albeit just in time, by sitting down with CNN’s Dana Bash for her first major interview. However, she will not be alone. The vice president will be accompanied by her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, for this prime-time appearance, set to air at 9:00 PM EDT (2:00 AM BST).
Harris’s decision to include Walz in the interview may raise eyebrows and fuel criticism, as it comes amidst growing concerns that she might be avoiding the rigorous scrutiny typically associated with solo interviews for major party presidential candidates. Scott Jennings, a former special assistant to President George W. Bush, criticized the move on CNN, describing it as a sign of Harris’s “troubling lack of confidence” and branding the joint appearance as “incredibly weak.”
Despite the criticism, Harris’s supporters argue that given the unique circumstances surrounding her candidacy, particularly after President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the race, her approach is measured and strategic. “I think the cadence has been right,” said Peter Giangreco, a Democratic strategist based in Chicago. “Win the nomination, pick your nominee, lay out your economic plan, do your convention and now do some sit-downs and amplify that.”
Joint interviews featuring both members of a presidential ticket are not uncommon. Barack Obama and Joe Biden appeared together on “60 Minutes” after Biden was selected as the vice-presidential nominee in 2008. Similarly, Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine did so in 2016, while Trump and his running mate JD Vance were jointly interviewed on Fox shortly after Vance’s selection.
Since Biden handed over the reins to Harris late last month, her media interactions have been largely controlled and scripted. Her last formal sit-down was on June 24, more than two months ago. Her brief exchanges with reporters during campaign events have done little to dispel Republican critiques that she is avoiding in-depth scrutiny.
The harshest criticisms have come from Republican quarters. Former President Donald Trump, for instance, has accused Harris of lacking the intelligence to handle a news conference and of avoiding interviews with friendly media to mask her weaknesses compared to Biden.
As Harris gains momentum in her campaign, there is pressure to maintain this energy. Republican strategist Chip Felkel emphasized the need for Harris to demonstrate her capability under pressure, a crucial aspect of presidential performance. “She’s gotta get out there,” he said. “She’s got to show that she can think under pressure.”
Harris has faced scrutiny for shifting her positions on several key issues since her 2019 presidential run. She has retreated from earlier stances on Medicare for All and fracking, and now supports a bipartisan border bill that includes funding for a border wall, which she previously criticized as “un-American.”
These changes could potentially open her up to accusations of flip-flopping, a challenge for a candidate still in the process of defining herself. By opting for a joint interview, the Harris campaign may be hoping to share the pressure and difficult questions, ensuring a unified message on policy issues.
Giangreco also noted that a joint interview could provide an opportunity to highlight contrasts between Walz and his Republican counterpart, JD Vance, whom Walz has labeled as “weird.”
Ultimately, the impact of Harris and Walz’s joint interview will become clearer once it airs. Harris’s performance in high-pressure interviews has been mixed. A 2021 interview with NBC’s Lester Holt, where she struggled with questions about her role in the administration’s border policy, was widely seen as a failure. However, her more recent one-on-one with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, where she defended Biden’s debate performance, showcased a calm and confident demeanor.
If this upcoming CNN interview aligns more with the latter example, the Harris campaign will likely hope that much of the criticism dissipates, allowing them to move forward with renewed momentum.
