Three weeks ago, shortly after being chosen as the Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris promised to schedule an interview before the end of the month. On Thursday night, she will keep that promise by appearing with CNN’s Dana Bash for her first major interview. However, Harris won’t be alone; she will be joined by her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. This interview is set to air at 9:00 PM EDT (2:00 AM BST).
While Harris has addressed her plans for a detailed discussion of her candidacy, having Walz with her might spark criticism. Some critics, like Scott Jennings from CNN, argue that bringing Walz indicates a lack of confidence in Harris’s ability to handle tough questions alone. They suggest that this joint appearance could be seen as avoiding the scrutiny she would face in a solo interview.
On the other hand, supporters argue that given the unique circumstances following President Joe Biden’s exit from the race, Harris is wisely pacing her campaign. Democratic strategist Peter Giangreco believes the approach is strategic: win the nomination, choose a running mate, present an economic plan, and then engage in interviews.
Joint interviews are not uncommon in presidential campaigns. For example, Barack Obama and Joe Biden did one in 2008, and Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine followed suit in 2016. Since Biden handed the campaign over to Harris, she has mostly engaged with the press in controlled settings, with her last major interview being over two months ago.
The criticism from Republican opponents, including Donald Trump, has been harsh, with claims that Harris is avoiding difficult questions. Republican strategist Chip Felkel suggests that Harris needs to prove she can handle pressure and articulate her plans effectively.
By pairing with Walz, the Harris campaign might be aiming to share the pressure of tough questions and present a united front on policy issues. It could also highlight a contrast with Walz’s Republican opponent, JD Vance. The real impact of this joint interview will be clearer once it airs, and if Harris handles it well, it could help mitigate some of the criticism.
This summary reflects the BBC’s perspective on Harris’s strategy and the potential implications of her joint interview with Walz.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3d72dxe5zo