Democratic pollster Cornell Belcher told NBC News on Sunday that Vice President Kamala Harris should continue to avoid sit-down interviews with reporters and focus on “talking to voters.”
Harris has not given in-depth media interviews since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee after President Joe Biden gave up his reelection bid. Her upcoming debate with former President Donald Trump will be one of her first major unscripted events, but Belcher fired back at PBS's Amna Nawaz's insistence that Harris answer reporters' questions. (Related: Trump sharply criticized voters' top concerns during Republican National Convention speech, but Harris barely mentioned them.)
“Harris has proven herself to be an excellent debater in the past. Recall that during the Democratic primary she spoke about desegregation busing and her opposition to Biden, and said, 'I was that girl,' which ended up being printed on T-shirts,” Nawaz said.
“Candidates don't need us journalists to get their message across, but interviews are where candidates face tough questions and skepticism about issues they don't address in their campaigns or monologues,” Nawaz continued. “They open up conversations in ways that are good for voters and good for democracy. I've been with VP Harris in unscripted scenarios, and I'll say it: these interviews have the potential to provide policy leadership.”
Belcher later denied Nawaz's comments and said Harris needed to focus on building her campaign base across the country.
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“I can say I love you guys, I love you guys, but as a campaigner, I can't do that. She should be speaking to voters and doing the heavy advertising that they do,” Belcher said. “Again, I love you guys, but I don't want her to be speaking to you guys right now. [registered] I am traveling around the country appealing to voters.”
A spokesperson for Harris' campaign has been the only person to give media interviews so far, raising questions about her refusal to speak unscripted and the campaign's failure to release a formal policy platform. Website.
The first debate between Harris and Trump is scheduled to air on ABC News on September 10. That debate was originally scheduled for Biden as the nominee, so Trump challenged Harris to two additional debates.
In addition to Sept. 10, Trump has proposed hosting the debate on Fox News on Sept. 4 and on NBC News on Sept. 25. The vice president has not yet confirmed any dates beyond Sept. 10.
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