Staff Reports
Vice President Kamala Harris is finally breaking her silence with the mainstream GOP-friendly media—specifically, Fox News. This upcoming interview, slated for Wednesday in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania, marks her first formal sit-down with the network during her entire tenure as vice president and former U.S. senator. That’s right; until now, the woman who once claimed to be the people’s representative has been dodging questions from the right like they were tax audits.
The interview will be helmed by Bret Baier, Fox’s chief political anchor, who is prepared to ask the hard-hitting questions that Harris has managed to avoid. Baier has made it clear that there will be no secret handshakes or preconditions; he won’t be passing along advance questions. In fact, while everyone else is apparently flying blind, Baier will have the cheat sheet in hand. This sounds like a recipe for a politically charged exchange, provided Harris can muster enough energy to respond. There’s a running joke that the Vice President talks slower than molasses in January; hopefully, the producers have built in extra time for her thoughtful replies.
Harris Sitting For First-Ever Fox News Interview This Week In Rare Movehttps://t.co/xQR3dY4DCy pic.twitter.com/aCO9s8xOlC
— Forbes (@Forbes) October 14, 2024
To no one’s surprise, Harris’ media strategy has been under scrutiny, especially from her opponents in the GOP. Many have claimed that she has been skirting tough queries by opting for softer interviews with non-traditional media outlets. While her team tries to convince the masses that she’s engaging “the people,” the reality is that Harris has largely favored friendly territory—a stark contrast to her counterparts in both past and current elections. Selecting more cushy platforms than a toddler’s playpen might not be the best tactic when the nation is on the brink of a major decision.
Former President Donald Trump obviously isn’t one to hold back, suggesting that Harris is like a deer caught in the headlights when the questions get tough. He took to Truth Social to voice concerns about her performance in previous interviews, pointing out that even the lightest inquiries seem to leave her scrambling for clarity. Nobody wants a repeat of a four-year term with a leader who appears slow to react—there’s enough of that already in Congress.
As for the numbers, Baier’s “Special Report” is reportedly a ratings smash, boasting an audience of 2.3 million viewers—making it home to the most politically diverse crowd in cable news. This is particularly significant for Harris, as she attempts to sway those all-important independent and Republican voters ahead of the looming election. This opportunity could be her best chance to come across as more than just the running mate whose script reads like a never-ending PowerPoint on diversity.
Meanwhile, the Harris campaign’s poor track record in traditional media interaction remains an open question. Will her appearance on Fox finally shed light on her actual positions? Or will she continue to dance around the issues while the only people truly engaged are those tuning in to share a laugh at her expense? The stakes are high, and the time for her calculated media avoidance has run out. Wednesday is just around the corner, and anticipation is hanging thicker than a September fog in Pennsylvania.
