Who would you like us to speak to?
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is asking reporters for advice on which media outlet she should choose for her first interview as the Democratic presidential candidate. The Californian hopes to set a date for her first in-person interview by the end of this month.
Harris – who became the Democratic standard-bearer after President Biden announced on July 21 that he would not run for a second term – has not yet held a formal one-on-one meeting or released a comprehensive policy program.
According to Politico, which reported on the contacts between Harris’ campaign team and media representatives, television producers have approached the journalists on behalf of “well-known news anchors” to promote the use of their talents to question the vice president.
The report added that there had been disagreements during the election campaign regarding the source, timing and format of the future interview.
One of the views being put forward is to put Harris in the spotlight in front of a major moderator, but according to Politico, the vice president herself has made it clear that she disagrees with the need for a “high-profile” meeting.
The use of her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, for solo appearances could also pose a risk. There are reportedly concerns that he may not be fully informed about Harris’s – superficial – political agenda.
“I’ve spoken to my team,” Harris told reporters on August 8. “I’d like us to set up an interview before the end of the month.”
Harris’ team did not respond to a request from The Post on Tuesday about interview plans, but campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon reiterated as recently as Thursday of last week that Harris “will give an interview by the end of the month.”
The lack of media access to Harris is reminiscent of Biden’s presidency, during which the 81-year-old commander-in-chief avoided many press conferences and, when he held them, called on pre-selected reporters.
During Harris’ tenure as vice president, her team was also careful to manage her interactions with the media, even calling reporters to get their questions before off-the-record meetings on Air Force Two, although nothing Harris says on those occasions can be reported.
