CNN panelists called on presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris to face the media and answer voters' questions on “The Chris Wallace Show” on Saturday.
Biden gave up reelection on July 21 and subsequently nominated the vice president to replace him in the 2024 presidential election. Harris has not spoken publicly to reporters in the 20 days since being named Biden's successor.
CNN panelists Lulu Garcia-Navarro, John McCormack and Kristen Soltis Anderson called on Harris to hold a press conference and make herself available for media interviews.
Garcia-Navarro acknowledged that Harris is “riding a wave” and understands why Democratic strategists might advise her not to risk shaking things up. But he acknowledged that Harris “needs to buckle down” because voters are unsure of where she stands on issues like the Supreme Court and D.C. statehood.
McCormack said Harris must state her 2020 position in “her own words” rather than relying on campaign aides' press releases. He noted that Harris has supported Biden's recent election efforts. Need She opposed term limits for Supreme Court justices and asked them to “make it clear” how “radical” she is on the issue. (Related: “The number of idiots is skyrocketing”: Republican Sen. John Kennedy spars with Fox News host over “Ding Dong” Kamala Harris)
“I think ultimately she's going to have to answer these questions, and I don't know if it's OK to answer them this week, next week or the week after, but at some point you start to feel like, 'Wait a minute, what are they hiding?'” Soltis Anderson told the committee.
Soltis Anderson said Biden's lackluster performance in the June 27 debate made it clear the president is “not in good shape” to seek reelection.
“It would be a shame if we have to wait until the debate on September 10th before we actually get asked, 'You were against fracking and now you support it. When did you change your mind and why?' 'You were for fracking and now you're against it. When did you change your mind and why?' It would be a shame if we have to wait all the way until September,” Soltis Anderson said.
President Trump held a 72-minute press conference on Thursday. I tried Harris is scheduled to appear in three debates in September. Republican candidates have offered to face off against her on Fox News on September 4, ABC News on September 10 and NBC News on September 25.
