Vice President Kamala Harris faced criticism from viewers after appearing alongside her running mate, Tim Walz, in her first interview since becoming the Democratic nominee for president.
According to a poll conducted by Daily Mail Online, many felt Harris looked "weak" for not conducting a solo interview and waiting weeks before sitting down with CNN's Dana Bash.
The interview, which took place in a Georgia restaurant on Thursday, August 29, 2024, was highly anticipated as Harris had avoided interviews for over a month since securing the nomination. While her overall performance received some positive reviews, with viewers describing her as "presidential" and "smart," the decision to appear with Walz raised eyebrows among those surveyed.
J.L. Partners, which conducted the snap survey after the interview aired, asked a representative sample of 294 viewers for their thoughts on Harris's decision to wait so long for an interview and to do it alongside her running mate. The results were largely unfavorable.
A 52-year-old female restaurant manager from Texas, who plans to vote for Harris in November, expressed disappointment, stating, "I think it kind of makes her look bad because I really think she should sit down and have this interview so everyone in the world can see her point of view and where she's coming from."
Another Harris supporter from Massachusetts voiced concern that the joint interview made her appear "as though she's not fit to be president."
Despite the criticism of the interview format, Harris's actual performance during the CNN segment received mixed reviews from viewers. When asked for a one-word summary of her appearance, the most common responses were "presidential" and "smart," followed by "fake," "leader," and "bad."
James Johnson, co-founder of J.L. Partners, commented on the survey results:
Voters split by party on their views of how Harris did but they agree on one thing: Harris looked weak for not appearing solo. Voters felt she came across quite well in the interview, so it was a mistake not to appear solo straight away.
Johnson added that this perception could be easily addressed by the campaign if they arrange a solo interview for Harris in the near future.
During the interview, Harris addressed questions about her policy positions, confirming changes in her stance on fracking and illegal border crossings. She defended her evolving views, stating: "I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed."
When viewers were asked about the most memorable moments or issues from the interview, the responses were largely underwhelming. The words dominating the resulting word cloud were "Nothing," "questions," and "Trump," indicating that the interview failed to leave a strong impression on many viewers.
As expected, reactions to Harris's performance often fell along party lines. A 36-year-old Harris supporter from Michigan described her as "Approachable, even headed. She kept to her points pretty well." In contrast, a Trump voter from New Jersey criticized the interview, saying, "She was given softball questions and she gave softball answers."
In conclusion, while Harris's joint interview with Tim Walz on CNN received mixed reviews, many viewers expressed disappointment in her decision to avoid a solo appearance. The survey results suggest that Harris's performance was generally well-received, but the format of the interview raised questions about her readiness to lead. Despite this setback, analysts believe the Harris-Walz campaign can quickly address these concerns by arranging a solo interview in the near future.
