OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The Democratic machine that worked to hide President Joe Biden before his election is doing the same for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris, who will all-but likely be crowned the Democratic nominee for president next week, has not had one press conference or long-form interview since ascending to the top of the ticket.
Fox News reported that it has been 13 days since she assumed the top spot on the Democratic ticket, and she has not had a press conference.
“Kamala Harris should absolutely hold a press conference. One would expect it when she names her vice-presidential pick. But we cannot expect her to break from Biden’s serial avoidance of press conferences,” Graham said to Fox News Digital.
“Since the 2020 campaign, we have witnessed the bizarre spectacle of Donald Trump granting wide access to networks that suggest he’s a fascist and hammer him daily, while Biden and Harris won’t grant interviews to media outlets that gurgle all over them and their ‘historic accomplishments,’” he said. “Either they think the press can never be servile enough, or they are projecting a complete lack of confidence in their efforts to put complete sentences together.”
It is unlikely that the mainstream media is going to press her for a press conference or interview as they have been busy producing glowing pieces on the candidate.
DePauw University media studies professor Jeffrey McCall said that the vice president’s campaign is “well aware that Biden dodged the media throughout his 2020 campaign and still got elected.”
“The Harris camp is also well aware that their candidate doesn’t do well in unscripted settings, not to mention that a presser or legitimate sit-down interview would necessarily require her to defend some of her positions, previous statements and record. Thus, a rerun of the Biden basement campaign sounds pretty good, as long as you throw in a couple of rallies with Megan Thee Stallion,” he said.
He said that the vice president does not feel pressure “to do a press conference just because she has fallen into the nomination” because Democrats are going to support her no matter what.
“The supporters rallying around her don’t expect her to be accountable and have little interest in her policy positions and so on. That she’s not Biden, or Trump, is sufficient for those supporters,” he said.
“From a rhetorical strategy standpoint, however, it would behoove Harris to actually do a presser and do real journalistic interviews,” he said. “At some point, it would seem, she’ll have to attract moderates or undecided voters who want to see her take questions.”
An example of her cringe performances in an unscripted setting reared its head this week.
Harris reminded critics of why they are not confident she would make a good president on Thursday in response to a reporter’s question regarding a historic prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia.
Harris was standing next to a vacant-looking President Joe Biden when she was asked to comment on the exchange.
“This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy,” she said.
WATCH:
KAMALA — UNSCRIPTED FOR THE FIRST TIME:
“This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy.”
WHAT? pic.twitter.com/lxlhhG1xhT
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 2, 2024
“Jesus,” one X account responded.
“Kamala Harris spoke for the first time [in] this campaign without a script. It went exactly how you’d expect,” the End Wokeness account added.
“A bunch of word salad,” said another user.
“Biden looks pissed here. Can’t say I blame him. I’d be pissed too if my party ousted me after nobody voted for the person my party selected. Democrats are the party of communism,” another added.
Harris has appeared to change her position on many issues that were important to her and a majority of Democratic voters during her unsuccessful 2020 presidential bid in what critics say is an effort to repackage her in a desperate bid to appeal to more voters now that she’s the heir apparent to the 2024 nomination.
