KAMALA Harris’ campaign has come under scrutiny for failing to respond to questions from the press during her first 23 days as a Democratic presidential candidate.
Harris has hit the ground running since she began the campaign, but has been criticized for neglecting to hold press conferences and instead focusing on speaking to her supporters at rallies.
President Biden ended his re-election bid on July 21 and quickly endorsed Harris as his replacement.
She picked up enough delegates to become the nominee and launched a full campaign using Biden’s team almost immediately.
Harris named Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate on August 6.
The two debuted together for the first time a day later in the swing state of Pennsylvania.
Read more about Kamala Harris
Since late July, Harris has appeared at six campaign rallies in Georgia, Texas, Nevada, Wisconsin and North Carolina.
Despite his ambitious campaign schedule, one event has noticeably disappeared from his calendar: a press conference.
As the days pass, Harris has yet to hold a formal press conference or interview with a media outlet.
Harris has also been criticized for recycling the same content during public appearances.
She typically begins her rally speeches by saying it’s “good to be back” in the state and adds that the “road to the White House” starts there.
Harris told crowds in Wisconsin, Michigan, Texas and Georgia that winning the White House meant winning their states.
She also frequently cites her summer job at McDonald’s at her rallies.
‘I KNOW DONALD TRUMP’S TYPE’
When addressing her competitor, Donald Trump, Harris reiterated that she “knows his type”.
Harris often reflects on her career as a state prosecutor, when she “faced perpetrators of all types.”
“Predators who abused women, fraudsters who deceived consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain, so hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type,” Harris said in Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia and in a campaign event in Delaware.
At Reading Area Community College, Harris spoke to a moderator and said, “The thing about progress is having the ability to have a vision and a belief in some faith in what can be alleviated by what has happened.”
Harris has repeated the same line at numerous rallies and campaign events.
She often asks the crowd at her rallies, “Are we ready to fight for this?!”
After asking the rhetorical question, Harris typically says, “When we fight! We win!”
She reiterated these words at her rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan.
Full statement from Vice President Kamala Harris as Biden drops out of 2024 race and endorses her
“On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country. His remarkable legacy of accomplishments is unparalleled in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many two-term presidents.
“It is a great honor to serve as your vice president and I am deeply grateful to President Dr. Biden and the entire Biden family. I first met President Biden through his son Beau. We were friends from the time we worked together as attorneys general in our home states. As we worked together, Beau told me stories about his father. The kind of father – and the kind of man – he was. And the qualities that Beau revered in his father are the same qualities, the same values that I have seen every day in Joe’s leadership as president: his honesty and integrity. His big heart and commitment to his faith and his family. And his love for our country and the American people.
“With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above all else.
“I am honored to have the president’s endorsement and my intention is to deserve and win this nomination. Over the past year, I’ve traveled across the country, talking to Americans about the clear choice in these important elections. And that is what I will continue to do in the coming days and weeks. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party – and unite our nation – to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.
“We have 107 days until election day. Together, we will fight. And together we will win.”
‘WHAT DO YOU HAVE?’
While campaigning in Detroit, Harris stopped briefly to answer questions from reporters on the tarmac of her plane.
“What do you have?!” she asked while reciting brief responses from the press.
Harris discussed her debate with Trump and said she was open to debating him more than once.
When asked why she thought Trump was hesitant to debate her, she responded, “I’m beyond trying to speculate on what he thinks.”
Harris shut down rumors that Walz avoided serving in the Iraq War during his military tenure.
She also spoke about her rare media appearances, telling reporters that she had spoken to her team about scheduling an interview before the end of August.
There has been no update on when the interview will take place or who will conduct it.
TRUMP CAMP FUCKS BACK
Trump and his running mate JD Vance have been giving interviews and press conferences during the campaign.
Trump recently sat down for an interview with Elon Musk and criticized Harris for avoiding reporters.
“It’s very sad when you think that someone who makes a living doing this can’t answer a question or is afraid to do an interview, and in her case, with a very friendly interviewer,” Trump told Musk.
“She has friendly interviewers,” he added.
Trump echoed a similar sentiment at a campaign event in Florida, telling the press: “She doesn’t know how to give a press conference; she’s not smart enough to give a press conference.”
“She should be giving interviews. She doesn’t want to give interviews.”
MEDIA REVOLUTION
The media criticized Harris for avoiding interactions, with a Fox News panel weighing in on her lack of interviews.
Fox News anchor Anita Vogel said Harris’ avoidance of the press was “an insult.”
“That’s what we [the press] does, and the press should feel insulted that she isn’t taking the time to answer their questions,” she said
“It doesn’t matter if she’s a man or a woman, she’s running for president of the United States and has to answer questions from the press. It’s absolutely insulting.”
Fox News contributor Miranda Devine agreed, arguing that Harris was trying to “hide from scrutiny.”
David Axelrod, Barack Obama’s campaign strategist, defended Harris’ rallies to New York Times.
“These have been a turbulent few weeks and at the moment the passionate speeches at rallies are working really well, so she is riding the wave,” he argued.
“But I’m sure they know that, in addition, presidential races pose a series of tests, including debates and impromptu interactions with voters and the media, through which people get to know you.
“There is time and I am sure she will get there.”
Harris’ lack of media appearances has left some voters unclear about her political positions.
Researcher Scott Rasmussen said The hill that the only issue on which most voters knew where they stood was opposition to abortion restrictions.
Harris’ speeches at rallies also offer a broad vision for her future administration and rarely address specific policy positions.
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