For Kamala Harris, it was a trial by fire: How will she fare in her first interview as a presidential candidate? After the CNN interview, the Democrat can probably breathe a sigh of relief.
In her first TV interview since being nominated as the US Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris defended the achievements of President Joe Biden’s administration and called for a new political beginning. “What I think the American people deserve is a new way forward and a departure from the last decade,” said the Vice President.
The interview was a test for Harris – and she seems to have passed it: There were no major blunders in the half-hour conversation with CNN. But the 59-year-old missed a few opportunities to score points. Her political opponent in the presidential election on November 5, Republican Donald Trump, reacted after the interview on his mouthpiece Truth Social with one word in capital letters: “Boring.”
Harris promotes diversity of opinion in decision-making
Harris announced that if she wins the election, she would also like to bring a Republican into her cabinet. “I still have 68 days until the election, so I don’t want to put the cart before the horse,” she said in a joint interview with her running mate Tim Walz.
But she is convinced that it is important that people with different views and different experiences sit at the table when making the most important decisions, Harris said. “And I think it would be beneficial for the American public to have a member of my cabinet who is a Republican.”
There have also been individual ministers from the other party in the USA in the past, for example at times under then-Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
A missed opportunity
The interview was recorded during a campaign tour in the coastal city of Savannah, Georgia, and broadcast a few hours later. Harris missed the opportunity to make a strong start on the very first question. Journalist Dana Bash asked Harris what her plans were for her first day in office. Harris remained vague in her answer, saying that she wanted to strengthen the middle class.
In the interview, Harris also had to explain why she had made a U-turn in some areas – for example on the subject of fracking. Harris had once spoken out against natural gas extraction through fracking, but now she says: “I will not ban fracking.” This is one of the issues for which Trump has repeatedly attacked her – just like on the subject of migration. Here, too, Harris had to defend her performance as US Vice President in this area in the interview.
Harris: “Next question please.”
Harris described Trump’s statements about her identity as a black American as “the same old, stale ploy”. – “Next question, please.” Harris is the first woman, the first black person and the first American with Asian roots to be sworn in as US Vice President. Harris has made her origins and gender virtually non-existent in the election campaign – this is also reflected in her brief answer in the interview. Trump repeatedly attacks the Democrat in sexist and racist terms.
Pancakes, bacon and a historic retreat
Since Biden dropped out of the race for the White House after his disastrous TV debate against Trump more than a month ago, Harris has relied on choreographed appearances and skillfully avoided critical questions from the press. Criticism of this behavior came not only from 78-year-old Trump and his supporters.
Harris remained vague in many areas in the CNN interview and seemed pale in places – but gave an entertaining insight into the day she learned of Biden’s withdrawal from the race. “My family was visiting us, including my little nieces, and we had pancakes,” said Harris. Her nieces asked her, “Auntie, can I have more bacon?” As she was doing a puzzle with her family, the phone suddenly rang and Biden informed her of his plans.
Harris once again defended Biden (81) in the interview. She praised both his character and the successes of the joint government.
Harris plays it safe with transmitter
With CNN, which is considered liberal, the campaigner chose a channel that is more favorable to the Democrats. Harris was interviewed by Bash, who also moderated the TV debate between Biden and Trump in June with Jake Tapper and is a seasoned political journalist. Trump often gives interviews – primarily to channels like Fox News, which stand firmly behind him. He has made it a habit of not really answering the questions he is asked.
Harris’ running mate Walz – as expected – played a rather minor role in the interview. When asked about an incorrect statement about his military career, the governor of the state of Minnesota said that his grammar was not always “correct”. The 60-year-old Walz has significantly better popularity ratings than Trump’s running mate JD Vance. However, the running mate candidates in US presidential elections are usually not the decisive factor in voting.
Close race
The election is head-to-head between Harris and Trump. After Biden’s withdrawal from the competition, the polls for the Democrats have improved, but their lead in the national polls is within the margin of error and therefore only of limited significance. The so-called swing states are crucial in the presidential election anyway because of the special electoral system. In these states, it is not clear from the outset whether the Democrats or Republicans will win. Here, Trump and Harris are almost neck and neck in some polls.
