More than a month after being declared the Democratic Party’s candidate for the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris finally participated in an interview. However, it was not a solo appearance; her running mate, Tim Walz, was also present. After receiving criticism for this decision, Harris’ campaign announced she would have a solo interview before the election.
According to Politico, when addressing the backlash over Harris not appearing alone for the interview, her campaign “provided a list of joint interviews conducted by every major party presidential ticket since 2004.” A senior campaign official told the outlet, “obviously she will do solo interviews too,” before election day.
During the joint interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, Walz answered almost as many questions as Harris, taking up about half of the interview time. Harris was questioned on her apparent shifts in position, her primary goals for Day One, why she hasn’t already addressed key voter concerns since she’s currently in the White House, and other topics.
Before the interview aired, Harris’ decision to appear jointly with Walz was widely criticized.
“So Kamala Harris finally agreed to do a supposed real press interview with CNN reporter Dana Bash. But Harris wont do it alone —Gov Tim Walz will be there as her security blanket. Harris is too daft to do a press interview like this on her own,” wrote Fred Fleitz, vice chair of the America First Policy Institute’s Center for American Security.
“Why are you afraid to do a solo live interview with an ultra-friendly journalist at CNN? Disqualifying weakness. A POTUS leads the Armed Forces, commands the most powerful military on earth, faces down foreign enemies. You can’t do CNN without a co-panelist and an editing bay,” Trump senior advisor Stephen Miller wrote.
Why are you afraid to do a solo live interview with an ultra-friendly journalist at CNN? Disqualifying weakness. A POTUS leads the Armed Forces, commands the most powerful military on earth, faces down foreign enemies. You can’t do CNN without a co-panelist and an editing bay. https://t.co/Aq8YeHRBSz
— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) August 27, 2024
Since Harris was endorsed by Joe Biden 41 days ago, following his withdrawal from the race under pressure from his party, she has seldom answered questions from the press. She has agreed to just one presidential debate, scheduled for September 10 with ABC News, and mentioned she would debate Trump again in October, though no date or outlet has been confirmed. Harris turned down two other proposed debates with Trump—one with Fox News and another with NBC News.
