CNN contributor Scott Jennings criticized Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Tuesday night, stating that her decision to bring Minnesota Governor Tim Walz along for her first campaign interview since becoming the nominee “shows an extreme lack of confidence.” Jennings referred to Walz as an “emotional support” figure for Harris during the upcoming interview.
Jennings expressed his concerns on social media, writing, “Weak sauce for Kamala Harris to demand an emotional support animal for her first interview. Shows an extreme lack of confidence for Thursday night event on @cnn,” alongside a clip of his discussion with CNN host Anderson Cooper.
Cooper questioned the optics of Harris needing a running mate for the interview, suggesting that it raises questions about her ability to handle the event alone. “The line [is] now going to be, ‘Well, why isn’t she doing it by herself?’” Cooper remarked.
Jennings agreed, noting, “Yeah, I do think people are going to bring that up. I have great confidence in Dana [Bash] at CNN to do this. I think it’s incredibly weak to show up with your running mate. The fact that they don’t have enough confidence in her to let her sit herself, the actual top of the ticket, and do a single interview is telling.”
He further elaborated, saying that the situation reflects poorly on Harris’s political abilities and raises concerns about her decision-making process. “The hand-wringing and gyrations over this in the last month show a troubling lack of confidence in her political ability, which also makes you wonder, as a voter: What kind of president would you be if this small decision—whether to do an interview or not—looks like such a challenge?” Jennings said. “Yes, I think Republicans are going to think it’s pretty weak to show up with, effectively, someone to take up half the time.”
Reports have surfaced that Harris’s campaign requested a seated debate with notes for her September 10 confrontation with Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump. Eventually, the campaigns agreed to a standing, notes-free contest. Harris’s allies have reportedly advised her against engaging with the media, leading to limited interactions with reporters, often off the record.
Trump has consistently criticized Harris for her lack of media engagement, saying at a North Carolina rally, “She refuses to do any interviews or press conferences—almost 30 days now, she has not done an interview. You know why she hasn’t done an interview? Because she’s not smart. She’s not intelligent.”