Vice President Kamala Harris is set to participate in her first interview since launching her campaign in July, alongside her running mate Tim Walz on CNN. The interview, conducted by CNN’s Dana Bash, will air on Thursday at 9 pm.

Harris, the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, has not given an interview since taking over the top spot on the ticket from President Joe Biden. She had pledged to schedule one before the end of August, with Thursday, August 29, marking the deadline.

Typically, candidates use interviews to speak directly to the American public, asking for their vote, but Harris will make this appearance alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, her chosen running mate.

Scott Jennings just DRAGGED Kamala over bringing Tim Walz along for her interview.

He says it’s “weak sauce” for Kamala to bring along her running mate and soak up half the time. She can’t even handle an interview by herself.

I’m amazed CNN lets this guy talk. 😂 pic.twitter.com/ejSR4GUzvz

— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) August 28, 2024

To date, Harris has not held a press conference and has seldom taken questions from the press. Her campaign has drawn comparisons to Biden’s 2020 run, during which he made few public appearances, especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. His campaign rallies often featured socially distanced Jeeps, with Biden speaking from a stage to the vehicles.

Some of Harris’s allies and Democratic lawmakers suggest that her best strategy might be to avoid taking questions or speaking to the press altogether. The Democratic National Convention, held in Chicago last week, was noted by many, including Democratic activists, for its lack of concrete messaging and reliance on broad rhetoric and “vibes.”

Critics have pointed out that the campaign website for Harris and Walz lacks clear policy positions, raising concerns that Harris might be attempting to win the election without outlining her stance on key issues. CNN reported that while Harris did participate in interviews with “content creators and influencers” in Chicago, it did little to quell the criticism.

Kamala has supposedly reversed her 2020 positions on:

– decriminalizing border crossings;
– the border wall;
– abolishing private health insurance;
– EV mandates;
– banning fracking;
– opposing more police.

38 days, 0 questions.

Now we get a pre-taped joint CNN interview with…

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 28, 2024

Additionally, Harris and former President Donald Trump have finalized the rules for their only scheduled debate, which will air on ABC on September 10. Harris had reportedly requested a sitting debate format and the option to use notes during the discussion, but the Trump campaign rejected these requests.

Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, criticized Harris for her limited media availability and lack of policy transparency. “I think it’s really disgraceful, both for Kamala Harris but also for a lot of the American media that participates in this stuff, to have a person who has been the presumptive nominee of the Democrat Party for 17 days and refuses to take a single question from the American media,” Vance stated.