Critics aren’t buying it.
A senior adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris indicated that she has limited availability for press engagements as the 2024 presidential election nears. Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former mayor of Atlanta and a notable supporter of Harris, responded to CNN’s Jake Tapper’s questions about Harris’s sparse media interactions, especially when compared to former President Trump.
Bottoms defended Harris, explaining that while the media might prefer more frequent interviews, Harris’s responsibilities as both vice president and a candidate make her schedule quite demanding. She pointed out that Harris has been vocal about her policy positions in different formats, such as during a recent speech in Georgia where she addressed reproductive rights.
In terms of media engagement, Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, have completed 15 interviews recently, whereas Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, have conducted 55. This discrepancy has drawn criticism from various media outlets, highlighting that Harris has been more elusive in her campaign’s early phase compared to President Biden during his campaign.
Despite her limited press presence, Harris recently participated in a lengthy conversation with Oprah Winfrey, alongside several prominent supporters, including Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez. However, she has yet to hold a formal press conference since her nomination, while Trump has been actively engaging with the press in recent weeks.
