Vice President Kamala Harris finally participated in her first interview as a presidential candidate, following a month of evasion. The interview, led by CNN’s Dana Bash alongside running mate Tim Walz in a Georgia restaurant, covered a range of topics, including Harris’ policy changes, the significance of her candidacy, her first-day plans as president, and her willingness to have a Republican as a Cabinet member. The interview lacked questions about the delay in participating in interviews and whether more interviews would follow.
Criticism had been directed at Harris for her avoidance of interviews until this point, which was highlighted by the Trump campaign as an issue. Harris had committed to addressing this by the end of August, fulfilling her promise just in time. During the interview at Kim’s Cafe in Savannah, Georgia, Bash persistently pressed Harris for direct answers on certain topics, such as her stance on fracking and strategies for achieving a Mideast peace deal.
In response to Trump’s comments regarding her emphasis on her Black roots, Harris swiftly moved on to the next question. While political analysts, including David Axelrod, acknowledged the raised stakes due to the delayed interviews, Axelrod noted that Harris had successfully managed the interview. Walz was also included in the interview, a move uncommon for Harris, as she typically did not engage in solo interviews previously. The decision to involve Walz attracted criticism from Republicans who believed it undermined direct interaction with Harris.
The interview also briefly involved Walz sharing personal experiences, aiming to establish a connection with viewers. Despite concerns that Walz could overshadow Harris, he was not heavily involved in the interview and did not detract from Harris’ responses. This interview marked a significant moment in Harris’ campaign, characterized by a lack of solo interviews and a condensed campaign timeline. Bash, known for her moderation of high-profile events, effectively led the interview, ensuring that questions were directed primarily to Harris with minimal intervention from Walz.
