Vice President Kamala Harris will accept the Democratic nomination on Thursday without participating in interviews, holding press conferences, or providing substantial policy details since entering the race on July 21, 2024.
This approach is notable for three reasons. First, it mirrors President Joe Biden’s 2020 “basement” strategy to minimize public scrutiny, which contrasts with the usual media interactions expected when presidential candidates campaign.
Second, it reflects concerns within the Democratic Party about Harris’s appeal and her ability to discuss policies without making significant gaffes.
Third, it highlights a dilemma for Harris’s campaign: addressing issues like crime, inflation, and border security could undermine the Biden-Harris administration’s claims of progress in these areas. Yet, Harris needs to promote the administration’s achievements to validate her own record and candidacy.
The media has not interviewed Harris on television since June 24, 2024, and her last solo press conference was on December 2, 2023. Over the past 32 days, she has not participated in an unscripted press conference or interview. According to Axios, she has committed to one interview by August 31.
Despite limited media access, coverage of Harris has been more positive (84 percent) compared to other major party nominees, while former President Donald Trump has faced predominantly negative coverage (89 percent). Consequently, a recent poll indicates that 70 percent of registered Democrats and independents who voted for Biden in 2020 are not fully aware of Harris’s more controversial positions.
Harris’s economic plan, which included Soviet-style price controls, was met with criticism, including from some Democrats who attempted to distance themselves from it. Coverage by economists such as Jason Furman, Catherine Rampell, and Noah Smith has been largely critical, with Furman expressing skepticism about the plan’s practicality.
“She doesn’t need to negotiate against herself. We’ve got the biggest possible tent right now,” Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH) told Politico. “I don’t think there’s a real strong reason for her to try to weed out any points of view right now.”
The Harris campaign’s initial positive reception energized some Democrats, while others worried about actions that might jeopardize this phase. “Voters have very little understanding of who she is or what her role has entailed,” remarked a House Democrat from a battleground district. “They know Trump and his policies, but Kamala is less familiar to them, giving her significant opportunity to define herself.”
