On August 29, Kamala Harris gave her first formal interview since launching her presidential campaign in late July. Conducted by CNN's Dana Bash, this highly anticipated interview was the first unscripted appearance by Harris since her campaign kicked off. Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, also joined the discussion, although Harris fielded the majority of the questions.
The interview took place as Harris's campaign was in the midst of a bus tour through southeast Georgia, their first campaign event after the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. It came at a time when pressure was growing on Harris to make an unscripted appearance.
The interview was fairly routine and uneventful. Harris appeared composed and comfortable but did not generate much excitement compared with the more dramatic moments often associated with Donald Trump's media appearances. More importantly, it was free of major gaffes or missteps, which was seen as a success for Harris and her team.
Harris's responses painted her as a pragmatic centrist, contrasting with the more radical image sometimes attributed to her by opponents like Trump. Instead of delving deeply into policy specifics, Harris focused on defending the Biden administration’s record, while subtly signalling that she would forge her own path if elected. Although her loyalty to Biden was evident, it could also provide Republicans with ammunition to link her to some of Biden’s less popular policies.
When asked about her priorities for the first day in office, Harris highlighted plans to support the middle class, including proposals for a child tax credit, reducing grocery prices, and addressing the housing shortage by amping up construction.
One of the more notable segments of the interview addressed Harris's policy U-turns. During her 2019-2020 primary campaign, she had adopted a more progressive stance, supporting measures like “Medicare for All,” the Green New Deal, and a fracking ban. However, in the interview, Harris stated she would not pursue a ban on fracking if elected, clarifying that she had reversed her position on this issue the following year.
Regarding migration and the refugee crisis, Harris said she would enforce the existing border laws, and deflected criticism by blaming Trump and Republicans for obstructing a bipartisan border deal.
On foreign policy, particularly concerning Gaza and Israel, Harris took a centrist stance similar to Biden's, expressing steadfast support for Israel while acknowledging the loss of innocent Palestinian lives. She referenced the cease-fire proposal put forth by the Biden administration as her strategy for ending the conflict.
The interview underscored Harris's pivot to the centre, a strategy that could be crucial for her prospects in key battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Her campaign's efforts to appeal to centrists and moderate Republicans were evident, including her suggestion that she would consider appointing a Republican to her cabinet.
When it came to discussions about race and gender, Harris chose not to engage deeply, opting instead to focus on policy issues.
Trump, unimpressed by the interview, criticised it on his social media platform Truth Social, labelling it as boring and incoherent.
Notwithstanding Trump's criticisms, Harris's interview did not feature any significant missteps, which could benefit her in November. According to a latest Fox News poll, Harris is making steady gains in key sun belt battleground states such as Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia, though she still lags behind in North Carolina.