Since becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris has gone 25 days without holding a formal press conference or sit-down interview.
According to Fox News, while Harris has been active on the campaign trail and spoken at various events, she has yet to engage in a comprehensive interaction with the press since effectively replacing President Biden on the ticket last month.
The lack of formal media engagement has drawn criticism from various quarters, including the Washington Post editorial board, which challenged Harris over her media avoidance.
The editorial board pointed out that even her opponent has taken questions from the press, suggesting that Harris should account for her numerous policy shifts on issues such as fracking, border security, and private health insurance.
CNN's John Berman pressed Harris spokeswoman Adrienne Elrod on the issue, highlighting that the candidate clearly had time for an interview if she chose to do so. On the same day, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri told Berman that Harris couldn't face difficult questions due to what he termed an "indefensible" record.
Liberal CNN anchor Jim Acosta also chided the campaign about the issue, asking communications director Michael Tyler if it would "kill" them to do an interview. Tyler responded by reiterating Harris' vague pledge to conduct an interview by the end of the month.
Michael Tyler, the campaign's 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 urged reporters to "show a little bit of self-awareness" during a press conference in Detroit, pushing Harris to "do the job of a presidential candidate" by speaking to them. Vance himself participated in three Sunday show interviews on August 11, facing tough questions from CNN, CBS, and ABC.
Former President Donald Trump also commented on Harris' lack of media access during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, suggesting that she could not handle a news conference. Trump's remarks underscored the growing pressure on Harris to engage more directly with the press.
Some in Harris' orbit have defended her approach to media engagement. CNN commentator and former Bill Clinton aide Paul Begala dismissed concerns about Harris' lack of press conferences, simply asking, "Who cares?" This sentiment was echoed by Michael McFaul, a former Obama administration ambassador to Russia, who argued on social media that Harris' primary objective should be winning the election, not satisfying the press.
However, critics like NewsBusters executive editor Tim Graham expect Harris to follow President Biden's 2020 campaign strategy, which was characterized by limited press access during the COVID-19 pandemic. Graham expressed skepticism about Harris breaking from what he called "Biden's serial avoidance of press conferences."
The Harris campaign has defended its approach, stating that their priority is reaching voters through various means, including paid media, on-the-ground organizing, and an aggressive campaign schedule. A campaign spokesperson emphasized the strategic nature of their communication efforts, contrasting it with what they described as Trump's "losing, ineffective strategy."
As the election draws nearer, the pressure on Harris to hold formal press conferences and sit-down interviews is likely to increase. Her campaign's response to this pressure and its ability to balance voter outreach with media engagement will be closely watched in the coming weeks.
