Harris Avoiding Press Conferences Weeks After Biden Left Race

It seems the Democratic strategy that helped shield President Joe Biden before his election is now being employed for Vice President Kamala Harris.

The woman poised to become the Democratic nominee for president next week has not held a single press conference or participated in a long-form interview since taking the lead on the ticket.

Fox News reported that it's been 13 days since she assumed the top spot on the Democratic ticket, and she has yet to hold a press conference.

“Kamala Harris should absolutely hold a press conference. One would expect it when she names her vice-presidential pick. But we cannot expect her to break from Biden’s serial avoidance of press conferences,” Graham said to Fox News Digital.

“Since the 2020 campaign, we have witnessed the bizarre spectacle of Donald Trump granting wide access to networks that suggest he’s a fascist and hammer him daily, while Biden and Harris won’t grant interviews to media outlets that gurgle all over them and their ‘historic accomplishments,’” he said. “Either they think the press can never be servile enough, or they are projecting a complete lack of confidence in their efforts to put complete sentences together.”

It seems unlikely that mainstream media will press her for a conference or interview as they continue producing glowing pieces on her candidacy.

DePauw University media studies professor Jeffrey McCall commented that Harris's campaign is “well aware that Biden dodged the media throughout his 2020 campaign and still got elected.”

“The Harris camp is also well aware that their candidate doesn’t do well in unscripted settings, not to mention that a presser or legitimate sit-down interview would necessarily require her to defend some of her positions, previous statements, and record. Thus, a rerun of the Biden basement campaign sounds pretty good, as long as you throw in a couple of rallies with Megan Thee Stallion,” he said.

McCall explained that Harris does not feel the pressure “to do a press conference just because she has fallen into the nomination” since Democrats are going to support her regardless.

“The supporters rallying around her don’t expect her to be accountable and have little interest in her policy positions and so on. That she’s not Biden, or Trump, is sufficient for those supporters,” he added.

“From a rhetorical strategy standpoint, however, it would behoove Harris to actually do a presser and do real journalistic interviews,” he said. “At some point, it would seem, she’ll have to attract moderates or undecided voters who want to see her take questions.”

This week, an unscripted moment highlighted concerns about her capability as president.

Harris was reminded of why critics doubt her suitability for the presidency on Thursday when she responded to a question about a historic prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia.

Standing next to a vacant-looking President Joe Biden, Harris was asked to comment on the exchange.

“This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy,” she said.

WATCH:

“Jesus,” one X account responded.

“Kamala Harris spoke for the first time [in] this campaign without a script. It went exactly how you’d expect,” the End Wokeness account added.

“A bunch of word salad,” said another user.

“Biden looks pissed here. Can’t say I blame him. I’d be pissed too if my party ousted me after nobody voted for the person my party selected. Democrats are the party of communism,” another added.

Harris has appeared to shift her stance on many issues that were crucial to her and Democratic voters during her unsuccessful 2020 presidential bid, which critics argue is a desperate attempt to appeal to a broader electorate now that she’s the likely nominee for 2024.