Harris and Walz to Co-Interview Airing Thursday on CNN

Vice President Kamala Harris is gearing up for her first significant interview since emerging from the recent Democratic National Convention. The interview, set to air on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on CNN, will be conducted by anchor Dana Bash and will include her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. This will mark Harris’s initial formal interaction with the press since President Joe Biden exited the presidential race.

As Harris and Walz embark on a campaign bus tour across crucial battleground states, particularly Georgia, they face increasing pressure from opponents and the media to engage with reporters. Ian Sams, a senior advisor to the Harris campaign, recently stated that she would arrange a sit-down interview by the end of the month.

The absence of scheduled media engagements has led to criticism from Republican figures, suggesting that Harris is avoiding tough questions. Former President Donald Trump, speaking at an event in North Carolina earlier this month, accused her of dodging interviews for nearly 30 days, questioning her intelligence in the process. Trump’s campaign has characterized her as attempting to “duck and hide” from the media.

Despite these criticisms, Harris’s lack of interviews does not seem to have negatively impacted her poll performance. Current polling data indicates that she is outperforming Biden’s numbers from previous election cycles. According to the latest figures from 538, Harris currently enjoys a 47.2% approval rating, compared to Trump’s 43.6%. In contrast, when Biden left the race, he was at 40.2%, while Trump was at 43.5%.

Harris’s recent performance at the Democratic National Convention has revitalized enthusiasm among party members, which had been notably absent earlier in the campaign. Her selection of Tim Walz as a running mate highlights a strategic effort to connect with conservative voters, given his rural background, which the Democratic ticket hopes can foster broader appeal in less urbanized regions.

In recent weeks, Trump appears to have strayed from his previously disciplined campaign approach. He made several inaccurate statements regarding crowd sizes at Harris’s events and even neglected to present a policy proposal that he was expected to announce at a gathering in Michigan.

As Harris prepares for her upcoming interview, she faces a number of challenges, not least of which is addressing her connection to the Biden administration. The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan continues to haunt the administration; Trump recently emphasized this fact during an event at Arlington National Cemetery, claiming that the crisis diminished America’s global respect and credibility.

Harris may also encounter queries regarding her perceptions of Biden’s mental fitness during their time together, particularly following the June 27 debate. It was during that debate that she urged the public to judge Biden based on his overall performance rather than just the 90 minutes spent on stage. Interestingly, her debate performance reportedly sparked discussions among party leaders about encouraging Biden to withdraw from the race.

Moreover, interviewers are likely to explore her stance on current international conflicts, such as the war in Gaza. While she has recently called for a cease-fire, the Biden administration has yet to take concrete action toward facilitating one.

The situation at the southern U.S. border is poised to be another significant topic of conversation. Republicans have linked Harris to the increase in unauthorized crossings earlier in Biden’s term, often referring to her as the “border czar,” a label they misuse in their campaigns.

Finally, Harris’s economic proposals might also come under scrutiny. Her recent call to end grocery “price-gouging” has drawn criticism from some Republicans who have accused her of advocating for “communist price controls.”

In the coming days, Harris will travel to southern Georgia, where she plans to engage with voters on a bus tour and hold a rally in Savannah, further cementing her presence in this crucial swing state.

Source: ABC News