Vice President Kamala Harris‘ team declined to participate in an interview with Time magazine, continuing a trend of limited media access, as noted in a cover story highlighting her rise within the Democratic Party. As of Monday, Harris had gone 22 days without holding a formal press conference or sit-down interview since being named the Democratic nominee, following President Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race and endorse Kamala as the next nominee.
This contrasts with both Biden and former President Trump, who each participated in extensive interviews with Time during their presidential campaigns.
The Time article, titled “The Reintroduction of Kamala Harris,” written by Charlotte Alter, noted that Harris had not yet conducted a substantive interview or elaborated on her policy positions. The piece opens with a comparison of the energy at a recent Harris rally to the excitement seen at Beyoncé and Taylor Swift concerts, suggesting it evoked the early days of Barack Obama’s campaign.
Several prominent Democrats offered high praise for Harris in the article. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commended her ability to unify the Democratic Party swiftly and effectively, noting that she had done so “without putting a foot wrong.” Gun control activist David Hogg remarked that Harris has the right “vibes” for the moment, while Senator Cory Booker likened her growth in the political arena to advancing “from being a Padawan to a Jedi master.”
Representative Adam Schiff dismissed concerns about Harris’ historically low approval ratings as vice president, pointing out the inherent challenges of the role, where the vice president often handles tasks the president prefers to avoid.
During a campaign stop in Michigan last week, Harris addressed the criticism about her limited media appearances, stating, “I’ve talked to my team. I want us to get an interview scheduled before the end of the month.”