Staff Reports
In a political theater that could rival the best comedic performances, Kamala Harris’s recent interview on Fox News turned into something of an unintentional comedy show, as her senior campaign advisor David Plouffe proclaimed it an “ambush.” This charge came in the wake of Bret Baier’s relentless quest for clarity, as he prodded Harris to confront her record—something she seemed extraordinarily reluctant to do.
After a half-hour of watching the Vice President squirm under direct questioning, it became increasingly clear that Harris preferred to dodge specifics like a dodgeball champion in middle school. Plouffe, the former campaign guru for Barack Obama who has now pitched his tent in Harris’s camp, stepped up to praise her performance as if it were some kind of gold medal achievement in a sport designed to avoid accountability. He took to social media after the fact to contrast Harris’s struggle with what he described as Trump’s “unstable” media interactions. It’s always amusing to see a Democrat try to redefine the debate as if they are on the winning side of a game they seem to be losing.
Kamala’s Campaign Whines Fox News Interview Was ‘Ambush’https://t.co/I7tQq3Xk40. Lets see, maybe Putin will give her the questions in advance so it won’t be an ambush
— KC Loughlin III (@kcloughlin03) October 17, 2024
In truth, this interview was a desperate attempt to revive a flailing campaign that has largely refrained from serious engagement with the media—especially ones that don’t come with a built-in cheerleading squad. Harris has tended to favor friendly podcasters and interviewers who might offer softer questions, likely out of fear of revealing just how thin her political record really is. So, when the chance to face a serious journalist on Fox arose, the stakes couldn’t have been higher, and boy did it show.
Instead of tackling straightforward questions about how she and President Biden would rectify their administration’s tarnished legacy, Harris opted to make repeated references to Trump. If it weren’t for the serious nature of the political game, it might almost be funny to watch her constantly pivot back to the former President—who seemed to occupy far too much mental real estate in her head. One can’t help but wonder if she has a photo of him on her wall with pins and strings connecting his grievances to her every response.
To top off this comedy of errors, during one particularly telling exchange, Baier pointedly asked Harris how she envisioned moving beyond the perceived failures of her current administration. Instead of offering any semblance of a plan, she proclaimed, “You and I both know what I’m talking about.” When Baier tried to gain clarity by admitting he didn’t, the audience could almost hear the collective gasp in response to such a glaring lack of debate preparation. It was as if Harris was expecting the audience to fill in the blanks of her own policies.
The reality is, with declining poll numbers and an increasingly unsettling landscape in swing states, Harris’s strategy of avoiding accountability and leaning heavily on Trump rhetoric is a desperate gambit. As her team flails to reposition her as a serious candidate, the question remains whether they can finally get her to face the music. After all, if a Vice Presidential candidate can’t handle a straightforward interview, how can anyone believe she’s ready for primetime when the presidential spotlight shines?
