Let’s talk about the buzz surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris, who’s now officially the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential nominee.
It’s been just over two weeks since President Joe Biden stepped down from his re-election bid, passing the torch to Harris, and she’s already making headlines—but not necessarily for the reasons her campaign might want.
Since taking the top spot on the Democratic ticket, Harris has been notably absent from the media circuit. She hasn’t sat down for any long-form interviews, and none seem to be on the horizon. This is raising eyebrows, especially given the whirlwind of major news events in the past month that would typically warrant comment from a leading presidential candidate.
Even President Biden, who was known for avoiding press conferences, managed to sit down with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in early July, shortly before he withdrew from the race. Yet, Harris has remained largely out of the spotlight, leaving many to wonder if the major news networks have been trying—and failing—to secure an interview with her.
There’s speculation that Harris’s team might be keeping her away from the press for a reason. Her past interviews haven’t always gone smoothly. One infamous moment from a 2021 interview with NBC’s Lester Holt saw Harris stumble when asked if she had plans to visit the southern border, responding with, “And I haven’t been to Europe,” a remark that was widely criticized.
The lack of interviews is particularly noticeable given the recent media backtrack on calling Harris the “border czar,” a title she was given in 2021 when tasked with addressing the border crisis. Immigration remains a vulnerable issue for the Biden administration, and it seems Harris’s team might be cautious about putting her in front of a camera to discuss it again.
Adding to this, Harris has a reputation for delivering what some have dubbed “word salads,” vague statements that don’t always resonate well with the public. This could be another reason her communications team is hesitant to push for more interviews right now, especially as her campaign enjoys a honeymoon phase with relatively little negative coverage from mainstream media outlets.
On the political front, Harris has officially clinched the Democratic nomination following a five-day virtual roll call of delegates. This makes her the first woman of color to lead a major political party’s national ticket—a historic milestone.
However, with Election Day only 91 days away, Harris’s media strategy, or lack thereof, will likely be a critical factor as she ramps up her campaign.
