California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla, appearing on CNN on Thursday, argued that Vice President Kamala Harris doesn't need to be interviewed because she's been in office for 3 1/2 years and has taken an “unprecedented” position to replace President Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Republican Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio approached reporters Wednesday near Air Force Two in Wisconsin and said he was worried reporters “might get lonely” if Harris wouldn't give interviews. Padilla described it as a “stunt.” He also told “CNN News Central” host Sara Sydnor that Harris has a long track record of serving in public office and touted her “experience” and “maturity” as vice president. (Related: “I thought you guys might get lonely”: JD Vance walks up to bored reporters waiting for Harris on the runway)
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Democratic senator says Harris can avoid interviews because she's “done her job” as vice president pic.twitter.com/ocYB7wszsX
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“This is a troll. This is a stunt. This is a desperate move, in my opinion. They can't campaign on a track record. They can't campaign on a vision for the future. They can't campaign on hope and optimism for the American people. So this is what they have left,” Padilla argued. “Vice President Harris hasn't just been doing interview after interview for years and years. She's been the vice president for over three and a half years. She's been a district attorney in San Francisco, an attorney general of California, a U.S. senator longer than J.D. Vance, it's a great chapter in her career. So let's be clear about where the experience and maturity is. She's going to continue to do interviews.”
“The last three and a half weeks have been an unprecedented way to be a Democratic nominee, but she deserves some leeway,” Padilla continued. “She's collected delegates to be the provisional nominee, she's quickly vetted and selected a great running mate in Governor Walz, she's getting ready for the Chicago Democratic Convention and campaigning, she's working her day job and campaigning in all the key battleground states, so she'll be available for media interviews very soon.”
Harris has not given any interviews or news conferences since Biden gave up his reelection bid on July 21. Harris and Tim Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, whom Biden picked as his running mate on Tuesday, Battleground State Travel.
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