Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to give her first interview since launching her campaign with CNN, and will be joined by her running mate, Governor Tim Walz.
Vice President Harris has not held a press conference or given interviews since announcing her candidacy, and she and her campaign have faced increasing pressure in the past month. CNN Announced The network announced Tuesday that Dana Bash will interview Harris for the first time on her show, which airs Thursday, and that the vice president will be accompanied by Walz.
The vice president had previously told reporters he hoped to schedule an interview by the end of the month. As Harris weighed whether to do an interview, campaign staff had asked reporters for advice on who she should meet with, Politico reported. Harris disagrees with the idea that she should do a “flashy interview” at this point in the campaign, two people told Politico ahead of the CNN report.
“Kamala gives first interview with Training Waltz,” Daily Caller editor-in-chief Vince Colianese tweeted.
Kamara gives first interview to Training Waltz https://t.co/Acw0zSZluB
— Vince Coglianese (@VinceCoglianese) August 27, 2024
One reason Harris came under pressure to give the interview was because the campaign frequently reversed the vice president's policy stances. In the first weeks of the campaign, aides issued anonymous statements reversing her 2020 stance on fracking, the federal government's forced drilling for oil. Gun buyback and abolition of private health insurance, according to the New York Times. (Related: Kamala Harris fails to distance herself from left-wing 2020 campaign despite aides' best efforts)
The vice president has also not released a policy platform since launching his campaign, and while Harris has released some economic policies, her campaign website does not list any of her positions, instead featuring biographies of her and Waltz.
Before Walz was scheduled to appear with Harris in a CNN interview, aides were considering how to use her, concerned that the governor “was not fully aware of where Harris stands on every issue,” according to Politico.
Conservatives were quick to criticize Harris for not isolating herself during her first full question-and-answer session with reporters.
“Joe Biden can't get into a car or walk up stairs unescorted, and Kamala Harris can't even speak to a CNN reporter alone. It's embarrassing,” said Sean Davis, CEO of The Federalist. Tweeted.
Joe Biden can't get into a car or climb stairs without help, and apparently Kamala Harris can't even speak to a CNN reporter alone. Embarrassing.
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) August 27, 2024
The Trump campaign has repeatedly accused Harris of shying away from the media, and campaign officials previously told The Daily Caller that they would deploy Sen. J.D. Vance to various battleground states as part of a plan to draw a contrast with the vice president. (Related article: 'The dam will break': Trump campaign insider predicts backlash against Kamala's underground campaign)
BREAKING: 39 days after becoming the Democratic nominee, Kamala will give her first public interview on Thursday. ***
* Collaborative. Because she is not capable of doing it alone.
**It's on tape so her people have time to do damage control. pic.twitter.com/w6vR7btM68
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) August 27, 2024
“BREAKING: On Thursday, 39 days after becoming the Democratic nominee, Kamala will give her first public interview,” the Trump War Room responded. Tweet“A joint. Because she's not capable of doing it herself. I got it on tape so her handlers have time to do damage control.”
