A report by Politico Playbook has revealed that Vice President Kamala Harris is considering “race and gender” as key factors in selecting a media personality to host her first sit-down interview since joining the presidential race. This development has raised questions about Harris’s approach to reaching out to rural white voters in swing states, a crucial demographic in the 2024 presidential election.
According to sources, Harris’s campaign is ramping up its efforts ahead of the post-Labor Day push, and the vice president is expected to sit for an interview this week. However, the choice of interviewer has become a point of contention within the campaign, with many speculating that Harris will prioritize a Black and/or female reporter.
Harris has not held an unscripted press conference or sit-down interview about policy solutions in 37 days, and her last solo news conference was eight months ago. The media has not interviewed her on television since June 24, 2024. This lack of engagement with the press has raised concerns, with a recent poll showing that 89 percent of Americans believe it is important for a presidential candidate to answer questions from the press.
The Harris campaign’s reluctance to engage with the media may be due to concerns about the vice president’s likability and ability to speak off the cuff about policies without making a gaffe. Additionally, the campaign may be hesitant to discuss policy solutions for issues like crime, inflation, and border security, as this could undermine the Biden-Harris administration’s claims of having solved these problems.
