Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to sit down with CNN this week for her first interview since President Joe Biden decided not to seek reelection. The Democratic presidential nominee will be accompanied by her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in an interview with a CNN anchor in Savannah, Georgia. The interview is set to air on Friday at 9 p.m. Eastern time.
Harris' limited accessibility has been a focal point of criticism from Republicans as she rose to the top of the Democratic ticket following Biden's announcement on July 21. The upcoming CNN interview presents an opportunity for Harris to address concerns about her readiness for unscripted situations, while also posing potential risks as her team aims to capitalize on the momentum generated by the ticket shakeup and the Democratic National Convention.
Throughout her tenure as vice president, Harris has engaged in on-camera and print interviews with various media outlets, often at a more frequent pace than Biden. The Trump campaign has been keeping track of the days since Harris last conducted a formal interview as a candidate, and their response to the joint interview announcement emphasized their view of her competence.
Earlier this month, Harris expressed her intention to participate in her first formal interview before the end of August. She typically interacts with members of the media on Air Force Two trips, engaging in brief off-the-record conversations at the back of the plane before takeoff.
On Thursday, Harris is expected to rally voters in Savannah as part of a bus tour that commences on Wednesday.
