Staff Reports
The Democrats are pulling off a masterclass in staying out of the spotlight, as they plot their strategy for Vice President Kamala Harris. In a shocking twist, they are now making the case that their presidential candidate shouldn’t risk facing tough questions from the press. Harris has been on an extended media vacation for five weeks since she declared her late entry into the race, leading to inevitable comparisons with President Biden’s infamous “basement strategy” from 2020.
This avoidance might just be hitting the mark for Ms. Harris, as her approval ratings have slightly surged over former President Donald Trump—by a whole three points. Democratic strategist Brad Bannon has gone so far as to label this media silence a “clear winner,” suggesting that the more Trump talks, the deeper he digs his own grave. Apparently, standing in the shadows is the new political power move.
Democratic pollster Cornell Belcher echoes this sentiment, urging Ms. Harris to focus her energies on meeting voters in person rather than sparring with journalists. Benignly dodging questions seems to be the order of the day for a candidate who once stumbled through her previous presidential run. Not to be outdone, Hollywood has chimed in as well, with the acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino advising Harris to keep her distance from the press until the dust settles post-election. It seems the mantra from Hollywood is: “Winners don’t need to explain themselves.”
While there might be a rationale behind this avoid-the-press tactic, Republicans are unfazed, insisting that voters deserve transparency from Harris. Since she has now opted to mask her previous ultra-left stances on hot-button issues like fracking and healthcare, many are scratching their heads about where she truly stands. According to unnamed sources from her campaign, her opinions on immigration are a real puzzle, with her historical positions being scrubbed faster than a politician’s promise.
Democrats are in no hurry for Vice President Kamala Harris to do a sit-down news interview and are making the unprecedented case that their presidential candidate shouldn't risk answering questions. https://t.co/zycGFGnlQi
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) August 26, 2024
Senator Tom Cotton, a vocal opponent, has rightly pointed out that if Harris is changing her tune, she owes it to the American people—her new pals—to step out from behind her curtain and explain when and why these changes are occurring. After all, a political campaign is a cat and mouse game, but it’s hard to believe voters are simply going to forget about a candidate’s history as soon as they decide to play it coy.
As the days inch closer to the Labor Day holiday, there’s chatter that Harris may finally make a media appearance by the end of the month. The burning question remains: will she stand on her own two feet and answer the tough questions, or continue hiding in plain sight like a high school student avoiding a pop quiz? The suspense is palpable, but if history is any indicator, she might just decide that evocation of the “silent but deadly” strategy is the way to go.
