Why Has Kamala Harris Avoided Formal Interviews in 36 Days?

Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, has not conducted a formal interview in 36 days. The reasons for this silence are multifaceted and strategic, reflecting her approach to leadership and political engagement.

Responding to Critics: Harris’s Priorities

One primary reason for Harris's avoidance of formal interviews is her prioritization of campaigning and engaging directly with voters. While former President Donald Trump has been campaigning for four years, Harris has had less than three months as Vice President. This time difference adds significant weight to her focus on meeting voters rather than addressing trivial questions in interviews. Critics often ask such questions, like "Do you always wear pantsuits or do you have dresses you were also?"; these inquiries do little to address the substantive issues surrounding the Biden/Harris administration. However, Harris's strategic decision to prioritize direct voter engagement over such trivial media requests highlights her commitment to the grassroots level.

Political Insularity and Extemporaneous Speech

A second reason for Harris’s avoidance of interviews is her apparent struggle with extemporaneous speaking. Harris has been Vice President for nearly four years and has never given unscripted interviews or participated in press conferences on significant matters. She has broken tie votes in the Senate to pass two massive spending bills, but these actions have not led to significant media coverage. This reluctance to engage in interviews suggests a lack of comfort in the extemporaneous format, which often requires quick thinking and the ability to handle unexpected questions.

Strategic Campaigning and Media Relations

The third reason for Harris’s strategic silence is her recognition of the importance of standing up a presidential campaign overnight. This task is non-trivial and requires significant planning, resources, and media relations strategies. Harris evidently believes that meeting voters directly is more effective than engaging with a biased and often hostile media. She has seen Biden’s success and is following his strategy of keeping a low profile with the media to avoid constant scrutiny and controversy.

Legitimizing Media Criticism

Furthermore, Harris may be avoiding interviews to avoid legitimizing the media criticism that has been highly biased against Biden and thereby against the entire administration. By not participating in interviews, she can avoid giving a platform to those who view Biden and Harris as an "elderly, blabbering, mentally deranged, lying, sexual abusing insurrectionist." Such a platform might embolden these critics and provide them with more ammunition for their negative narratives.

Political Calculations and Strategic Positioning

Harris’s decision not to engage in formal interviews is also a calculated political move. She is not the challenger, but she is the one in the position of power and influence. By withholding interviews, she maintains the initiative and avoids the need to explain herself to an often adversarial media. This strategy also allows her to control the narrative and decide the timing of her media engagements. There is a possibility that she is considering canceling future debates to further push for her agenda and maintain her electoral success.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kamala Harris’s strategic silence reflects a well-thought-out political approach. Her focus on direct voter engagement, her challenges with extemporaneous speaking, and her strategic campaign management are all part of her broader political strategy. By not giving in to media requests and engaging directly with voters, Harris maintains control over the narrative and positions herself as a leader who is focused on delivery rather than media appearances.