Staff Reports
Joe Kernen of CNBC’s “Squawk Box” took the opportunity to grill Chris Coons, a Democratic Senator from Delaware and co-chair of Kamala Harris’s campaign, on the ongoing issue of Harris’s reluctance to engage in interviews. In a classic case of political dodging, Kernen pointed out that while the other candidates are busy connecting with voters, Harris seems to be playing hide-and-seek with the press, hoping to coast through the election without a single tough question coming her way.
Kernen noted that Harris has made a dramatically low number of media appearances, reflecting a level of transparency typically reserved for a secretive government agency. Recent analyses show that both Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, have embarrassingly limited their interviews to fewer than five—a record-setting feat of evasion in the pantheon of presidential campaigns. One might wonder whether this strategy is a clever game plan or simply a blatant avoidance tactic that screams “I have something to hide.”
CNBC seems to be getting angry that Kamala won't do interviews…
Watch her campaign surrogate ramble and make excuses for her. pic.twitter.com/blDqapR3bN
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) September 24, 2024
When pressed on this issue, Coons tried to redirect the conversation, tossing out the idea that Harris has been preoccupied with important diplomatic duties, like attending the United Nations General Assembly. It’s charming to see a politician try to sell the notion that a vice president has no time to answer citizens’ questions while jet-setting around the world—but that’s a tough sell. Kernen made it clear that even busy politicians can spare a few minutes for interviews where the tough questions can actually be asked and answered, rather than hiding behind international engagements as a convenient excuse.
Kernen pointed out that being transparent should be at the top of any candidate’s priority list—especially in the last stretch of a campaign where voters are thirsty for information. This lack of access seems calculated, almost as if someone behind the scenes is giving Kamala the old “rope-a-dope” treatment. After all, what better way to avoid accountability than to appear less accessible to voters and the press?
As the days tick down to the election, the image of an unapproachable Kamala Harris, ducking out of meaningful exchanges, may not help her cause. In a world where voters deserve to hear directly from those vying for leadership, the strategy of limiting public engagement could backfire spectacularly. The American people are curious, and it seems that Harris’s team might want to reconsider their approach before the electorate decides they’re not interested in a candidate who doesn’t want to level with them.
In this age of rampant media consumption, a candidate attempting to avoid the spotlight could find themselves surrounded by an increasingly skeptical electorate. With mere weeks remaining until ballots are cast, it’s clear that if Harris isn’t careful, her campaign’s greatest foe might turn out to be the very silence it has cultivated.
