Additional Coverage:
Vice President Kamala Harris is slated for a prime-time interview on Thursday, marking her first major media engagement since the Democratic National Convention. CNN has confirmed that Dana Bash will interview Harris along with her vice-presidential running mate, Governor Tim Walz. This comes following President Joe Biden’s exit from the presidential race.
The interview, set to broadcast at 9 p.m. ET, aligns with Harris and Walz’s campaign bus tour across key battleground areas in Georgia. This media appearance follows increasing pressure from both the Trump campaign and journalists for Harris to participate in a more extensive Q&A session.
Ian Sams, a senior adviser for the Harris campaign, reiterated on Monday that Harris had plans to arrange an interview by month’s end. The absence of earlier media engagements drew criticism from Republican circles, implying Harris was avoiding press interactions.
Former President Donald Trump, at a recent event in North Carolina, criticized Harris for not engaging with the press for nearly 30 days, attributing her silence to a lack of intelligence. His campaign echoed this sentiment, accusing Harris of trying to evade tough media questions.
Despite these claims, Harris’s polling numbers remain strong, leading Trump 47.2% to 43.6% according to 538’s national polling average. This is notably higher than Biden’s ratings at the time he withdrew from the race.
Following her impactful speech at last week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Harris has revitalized Democratic enthusiasm that was missing earlier in the campaign. Her decision to choose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate has been well-received, particularly for the potential appeal to rural voters.
Meanwhile, Trump has reportedly strayed from the disciplined campaign approach he maintained earlier this summer, with recent erratic claims and overtly forgotten proposals.
Harris faces several challenges ahead, notably the upcoming media interview where she will likely need to defend the prior administration’s actions, including the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump highlighted this point during a recent memorial event, directly blaming the Biden administration for diminishing U.S. credibility.
In addition to criticizing Biden’s leadership, Harris will likely address issues surrounding the war in Gaza, immigration policies, and potential economic interventions, including her proposal to combat grocery price-gouging, which some have controversially labeled as advocating for communist practices.
As Harris continues her tour in southern Georgia, with planned events including a rally in Savannah, these topics will undoubtedly be crucial points for both her supporters and critics.