A prominent Democratic pollster defended Vice President Kamala Harris’ tendency to avoid sit-down interviews amid criticism that she is avoiding scrutiny of her record just a few steps from the Oval Office.
Cornell Belcher dismissed concerns that Harris was giving the impression she was afraid to go off script by not speaking to reporters.
“She should be talking to voters and traveling around the country as they do,” Belcher, president of Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” panel Sunday. “I don’t want her to be talking to you guys right now. She should be talking to voters and traveling around the country.”
Harris has yet to give a major interview since emerging as the Democratic candidate last month, but has hinted at plans to “schedule one” by the end of the month.
Harris, 59, has only answered formal questions in limited rounds with reporters since being elected on July 21 after President Biden dropped out of the race.
Former President Donald Trump has held multiple press conferences and given numerous interviews over the past month to denounce Harris.
Many Republicans believe Harris has a history of making gaffes when pressed by reporters and would like to see her grilled on proposals such as her recent effort to impose a federal ban on so-called “price gouging.”
They are also seeking more specifics on policy after campaign spokespeople declared he had reversed his 2020 campaign positions on issues including Medicare for All, fracking and illegal immigration.
Notably, with just 10 weeks to go until the election, Harris still does not have a comprehensive policy platform posted on her campaign website.
Belcher’s fellow panelists argued that Harris should meet with more reporters to prove she can withstand criticism and defend her positions.
“Candidates don’t need us, journalists, to get their message across,” PBS anchor Amna Nawaz said before Belcher’s remarks. “Interviews are where candidates face rigor, skepticism and questions about issues they don’t address on the campaign trail or in their monologues.”
“It opens up the dialogue in a way that’s good for voters and good for our democracy,” she continued. “I’ve had unscripted conversations with Vice President Harris, and I’ll just say that these interviews have the potential to lead on policy.”
Harris is scheduled to face off against Trump in a debate hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia on September 10.
Trump has proposed two more debates, one hosted by Fox News on Sept. 4 and one hosted by NBC News on Sept. 25, but Harris has not committed to participating in either.
