The New York Times editorial board implored Vice President Kamala Harris to “do better” than the former vice presidential nominee when answering questions from reporters.
“As the presumptive Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris has an opportunity to encourage and embrace the kind of scrutiny the public has rarely seen in the 2024 race,” The Times editorial board said. I have written Friday.
“The American people deserve a campaign that tests the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses, highlights their differences, scrutinizes their plans and encourages people to vote by clearly explaining how their choices in this election will affect their lives. The American people deserve the opportunity to question the people who are going to lead their government.”
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The New York Times editorial board is calling on Vice President Kamala Harris to “do a better job” than former running mate President Biden when answering questions from reporters. (Getty Images/AP Photo)
The Times said Harris’ campaign developments showed “promising signs” of positive change, but that the vice president “needs to do more, and quickly.”
“Harris should challenge Trump to a series of debates and town hall meetings on issues of national importance, including the economy, foreign policy, health care and immigration. Trump has asserted that he is ready and willing to participate in debates once the Democrats formally select a nominee. The American public would benefit from a direct comparison of the two candidates,” the editorial board told readers.
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The Times went on to argue that “both candidates need to start taking questions from reporters.”
“Candidates have ample opportunities to speak directly to voters without the mediation of journalists through social media and tightly controlled public statements, but most voters do not have access to speak to their candidates directly,” the editorial board said. “President Biden has rarely given the press permission to ask questions on behalf of the American people, and on the rare occasions he has done so, his team has often sent scripted questions, leaving them ill-prepared for the campaign and to take on their opponents. Trump also rarely takes questions. Harris has a better chance.”
The New York Times has long criticized President Biden for his limited media presence during his presidency. (Evan Vucci via The Associated Press)
“Engaging with voters is especially important for Harris because she will be the first major-party presidential candidate in the modern era to skip state primaries, where voters have a chance to evaluate the candidates and ask them questions about the issues that matter most to their communities,” the article continued. “There’s a reason that addressing small audiences in small venues and answering questions from local reporters is a ritual of primary elections. Unlike large rallies, primaries are a chance to meet on an equal footing and serve as a learning experience for candidates and voters alike.”
“Good leaders speak up and listen, welcome scrutiny and accept responsibility. Harris now has a chance to demonstrate she is a leader worthy of the American people’s support,” the Times later added.
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After President Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris quickly became the leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination. (Alison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images)
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In April, The Times’ editorial board wrote a scathing piece criticizing Biden for “avoiding interviews and questions from major news outlets.” The paper also called for him to drop out of the presidential race after his disastrous performance in last month’s debate.
Harris has been met with jubilant media coverage since Biden announced he was dropping out of the race and endorsing her on Sunday, catapulting her to the top of the Democratic field. But despite being the presumptive Democratic nominee, she has yet to give any interviews.
