Kamala Terrified To Hold Her First Interview

Just three weeks ago, Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, expressed her desire to schedule a formal interview by the end of August. With the month rapidly coming to a close and no interview yet set, speculation is mounting about when and with whom this crucial sit-down might occur, according to Politico Playbook.

Harris, having recently accepted the nomination in Chicago, has been focusing her efforts on preparing for her upcoming debate on September 10 with former President Donald Trump. Additionally, she is fine-tuning her strategy for the weeks ahead. However, deciding who will land the first interview is not solely up to Harris; her team of advisers will also have a say. This internal decision-making process could lead to delays or disagreements over the best interviewer to capture her initial comments as the Democratic standard-bearer.

There’s considerable buzz within the campaign about the timing and nature of this interview. The political media is pushing for a comprehensive, tough interview with a leading national news anchor who will challenge Harris on her policy positions and perspectives. Despite this pressure, sources close to the campaign reveal that Harris has indicated she might not require an extensive interview.

Reflecting on her previous interview with Bill Whitaker on “60 Minutes” last October, where discussions on foreign policy led to some contentious moments and left her aides less than satisfied, former Harris communications adviser Ashley Etienne suggested key objectives for the upcoming interview. Etienne emphasized that the interview should aim to reveal more about Harris as a leader, address policy differences with President Biden, and present her in a commander-in-chief light. Etienne also mentioned a preference for CBS’s Gayle King as the interviewer.

According to Politico, other notable names being considered include NBC’s Lester Holt and Savannah Guthrie, or CBS’s Norah O’Donnell. ABC’s David Muir, while highly rated, is also co-moderating the debate, which may exclude him and his colleagues like George Stephanopoulos from consideration. CNN’s Dana Bash, Jake Tapper, Anderson Cooper, Kaitlan Collins, and Abby Phillip are also in the mix.

In parallel, the Harris campaign is strategizing on how to present running mate Tim Walz for interviews. There is a concern that Walz might not yet be fully briefed on all of Harris’s positions. Joint interviews featuring both Harris and Walz could be an effective way to highlight their partnership and address their collective policy positions.