Vice President Kamala Harris has not held a formal press conference or sit-down interview in the 29 days since becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
According to a report by Fox News, Harris has been active on the campaign trail and has spoken at various events but has not participated in a wide-ranging interview or formal press conference since effectively replacing President Biden on the ticket last month.
While Harris has engaged in brief "gaggles" and off-the-record sessions with traveling reporters, she has yet to hold a formal press event. On Sunday, during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, Harris spoke briefly with reporters, describing herself as an "underdog" as the convention approaches.
The Washington Post editorial board has challenged Harris over her avoidance of the media, noting that her opponent, former President Trump, "at least has taken questions." The editorial board suggested that Harris should address her numerous policy shifts on issues such as fracking, border security, and private health insurance.
Liberal columnist Perry Bacon also called for Harris to take questions from the press in a recent piece. CNN anchor Jim Acosta pressed the Harris campaign on the issue, asking communications director Michael Tyler if it would "kill you guys" to hold a press conference. Tyler responded by reiterating a vague commitment to do an interview by the end of the month. Michael Tyler, Harris' communications director, stated:
We will commit to directly engage with the voters who are actually going to decide this election. And that is going to be complete with rallies, with sit-down interviews, with press conferences, with all the digital assets that we have at our disposal.
GOP vice-presidential candidate JD Vance has been more accessible to the media, participating in interviews with three Sunday shows on August 11. Vance urged reporters to "show a little bit of self-awareness" and called on Harris to "do the job of a presidential candidate" by speaking to them.
Trump criticized Harris' lack of media access during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, saying: "She doesn't know how to do a news conference; she's not smart enough to do a news conference." This comment highlights the ongoing scrutiny of Harris' media strategy from her political opponents.
Some supporters of Harris defend her limited press access. CNN commentator and former Bill Clinton aide Paul Begala dismissed concerns about Harris' lack of press conferences, simply asking, "Who cares?"
Former Obama administration ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul suggested that Harris' primary objective should be winning the election. He stated that if a press conference helps her win, she should do it, but if not, she shouldn't, emphasizing that she has no "moral obligation" to talk to the press.
However, Tim Graham, executive editor of NewsBusters, expects Harris to follow President Biden's 2020 campaign strategy, which was characterized by limited media exposure. Graham criticized this approach, stating:
Since the 2020 campaign, we have witnessed the bizarre spectacle of Donald Trump granting wide access to networks that suggest he's a fascist and hammer him daily, while Biden and Harris won't grant interviews to media outlets that gurgle all over them and their 'historic accomplishments.'
In response to the criticism, the Harris campaign provided a statement to Fox News Digital explaining their strategy for reaching voters. A spokesperson emphasized that with less than 90 days until the election, the campaign's top priority is earning voter support through various means, including paid media, on-the-ground organizing, and an aggressive campaign schedule.
The spokesperson stated that their approach is "a far cry from Trump's losing, ineffective strategy of rage-posting, accosting reporters, and insulting the voters he'll need to win." The campaign also challenged Trump to engage more actively in the campaign trail if he is concerned about Harris' campaign strategy.
In conclusion, Vice President Kamala Harris has not held a formal press conference or sit-down interview in the 29 days since becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. This has drawn criticism from media outlets and political opponents, who argue for greater transparency and engagement with the press. The Harris campaign defends its strategy, focusing on various methods to reach voters directly. As the Democratic National Convention approaches, the campaign's media engagement strategy remains a topic of discussion and debate among political observers and commentators.
