tonight, Kamala Harris Finally Gives Her First Interview With Dana Bash On CNNBut she won't be alone. His veteran media deputy, Tim Walz, will be by his side for a joint interview. A decision that raises some questions.
Since the beginning of her campaign, Kamala Harris has followed a strict script. No press briefings, no one-on-one interviews, just carefully prepared speeches at rallies where she speaks directly to her supporters and undecided voters, but never to the media. To some, this strategy seems like a denial of democracy, since the media is traditionally a key counterforce.
Postponing this “trial by fire” for weeks may suggest two things: Either Harris doubts her ability to spontaneously defend her findings and proposals, or she believes she does not need to justify herself to journalists, preferring to avoid unnecessary risks.
Let's analyze these two hypotheses.
Unlike Tim Walz, Kamala Harris has not yet shown much ease during in-depth interviews. She has sometimes struggled to demonstrate a clear understanding of complex issues, increasing the risk of errors, both in substance and form. So having Walz by her side could serve as a shield: not only is he an excellent communicator, but he will also be able to share speaking time, thus reducing the risk of Harris slipping up.
This raises a fundamental question: Shouldn’t a candidate for the presidency of the United States, a position of such importance, demonstrate her ability to take risks and confront adversity, especially in the media, with confidence and spontaneity?
The answer may be yes. But today, Harris seems to be on the rise. Her speeches are widely covered, as she speaks directly to voters without a filter. And she will soon have to face Donald Trump in a debate, a major exercise she will not survive. So why risk exposing yourself to potentially difficult interviews?
Ultimately, voters do not vote for the candidate who gives the most interviews, but for the candidate who inspires and persuades the most. Criticism of Harris’s absence from the media scene comes mainly from the press corps and their political opponents. It can be said that Donald Trump and J.D. Vance willingly accept questions, even tough ones, from journalists. Sure. But it must be admitted that their statements, often outrageous, seem to slip through the fingers of a portion of the electorate and the media. Would we have the same tolerance if Harris or Walz indulged in such excesses? There is no doubt.
