After 43 days as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, Kamala Harris finally sat down for her first official interview with a major news outlet. However, while she defended some of her noted policy flip-flops and dismissed questions about her race, she provided few specifics on her plans for "Day 1" of her presidency.
Vice President Kamala Harris's long-anticipated interview drought ended on Thursday, but her sit-down with CNN's Dana Bash left many questions unanswered. After 43 days as the presumptive and now official Democratic nominee for president, Harris has yet to hold an official press conference, raising concerns about her openness to scrutiny.
Under pressure to sit down for a substantive interview after weeks of stonewalling, Harris agreed to speak to Bash in Georgia, joined by running mate Tim Walz. During the interview, Harris defended her policy shifts on issues like fracking and immigration, claiming that her "values" had not changed. She also responded to criticism over her defense of President Biden's mental acuity after his debate performance, given that he dropped out of the race less than a month later.
Kamala Harris' Interview Drought Ends, but Questions Linger
Bash pointed out that Harris had been vice president for three-and-a-half years, a period that included some of the policies she now criticized. Harris countered that she meant moving on from the "era" of Donald Trump that began in 2015.
The interview drew mixed reviews. Some praised Harris's dismissal of a question about Trump's suggestion that she did not embrace being Black until adulthood. However, others criticized her lack of specifics on her policy plans and her embrace of "Bidenomics."
Kamala Harris' Interview Drought Ends, but Questions Linger
Conservative CNN commentator Scott Jennings said the Trump campaign should be "salivating" over Harris's apparent embrace of Biden's economic policies. "She is making it clear that she will embrace and be a continuation of Biden's economic policy — his record — what they've done," he said.
Former President Trump has sought to highlight the contrast in media availability between the two candidates, sitting for several lengthy interviews in recent weeks and holding press conferences.
Kamala Harris' Interview Drought Ends, but Questions Linger
Harris received criticism for doing the interview with Walz, with some arguing that it was a sign of her inability to stand on her own. Fox News contributor Joe Concha predicted that Harris would not hold any solo press conferences during the 75 days leading up to Election Day.
Whether pressure will grow for Harris to do more interviews, including a solo interview, remains to be seen. Some have expressed concern that the liberal media may view the CNN interview and the upcoming ABC debate as sufficient for the campaign.
Kamala Harris' Interview Drought Ends, but Questions Linger
However, many questions remain unanswered about Harris's positions on key issues and her plans for the future. Without more transparency and accessibility, voters will have a difficult time making an informed decision on Election Day.
