Kamala Harris handled her first interview as the Democratic candidate fairly well, though she dodged a few questions and made some factual inaccuracies.
One wonders why her advisers would not allow her to speak to journalists and instead pressured her prior to her meeting with CNN last night.
Anchor Dana Bash did a great job of asking the VP questions and following up, and she did so in a low-key style, but wasted a lot of time on softer, “how are you feeling” questions.
VP Harris claims she “clarified” fracking position in 2020 — but transcripts tell a different story
Bash's first pitch was a regular softball. What do you do on opening day?
This allowed Harris to attack Donald Trump, churning out phrases like the “opportunity economy” (she didn't elaborate) and a $6,000 child tax credit (just $1,000 more than the Republican plan).
The vice president looked composed, but the way he looked — why did he look like he was shoved into a diner for his first interview — and Harris looked shorter than Bash and Tim Walz.
Harris included proposals in her street speeches such as giving $25,000 to first-time homebuyers, prompting Bash to ask, “Why haven't we done that yet?”
(IM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Kamala's brightest moment came when she challenged Harris for dramatically changing her position since her last failed presidential campaign — the first time, surprisingly, that she'd ever had to mention it.
Bash wanted to know if she still opposed fracking, as she said on the last campaign trail (and there is a recording of Harris saying so).
No, the Vice President said, “I made that clear during the 2020 debates.” That's simply not true, and, to his credit, Bash did end up asking about fracking four times.
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Though Harris said twice that “my values haven't changed,” her position has clearly shifted.
When asked about immigration and the record number of people crossing the border illegally under the current administration, Harris said the numbers have actually decreased since President Biden issued his executive order, to which Bash countered, “Why wait three and a half years?”
The former senator said President Trump had killed a tough bipartisan compromise.
Vice President Kamala Harris gave her first media interview since emerging as the front-runner in the Democratic field. (CNN)
Does Harris still support border decriminalization, as she once said?
She responded, “There are laws and there are consequences,” and handled related cases as a prosecutor. But she again avoided a change of duties.
Name any Republican Cabinet members? A pointless question. It's been a bipartisan tradition for decades. Who cares?
Bash asked about Trump's claim that he happened to be black in order to vote.
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Harris didn't take the bait: “The same old platitude: next question please.”
Asked about Gaza, Harris reminded viewers that Hamas massacred 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7 and that she supports a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Also, I am the best person for this job.
Then Walz was asked some tough questions: Did he misstate his status in the National Guard? What about IVF? What about his DUI arrest? Can people trust what he says?
(Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Minnesota governor said he takes pride in his job, even if he sometimes uses imprecise language.
Harris completely dodged Bash's question about whether she had any regrets about reassuring Americans that President Biden was healthy and fit for the next four years. “I have absolutely no regrets,” she replied, before changing the subject to say she was “proud to serve.”
In the feature section, the race- and gender-neutral Harris was asked about a viral photo of her niece watching her on TV, to which her stock response was, “I'm running because I'm the best person for the job.”
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But she admitted she was “deeply moved” by the photo.
Now Kamala Harris needs to give more interviews. It was a mistake to wait too long for the pressure to reach a boiling point.
