CNN’s Van Jones on Wednesday warned Vice President Kamala Harris’ avoidance of interviews is not sustainable for her presidential campaign.
Harris has not sat down for a single interview since launching her campaign after President Joe Biden dropped out and endorsed her on July 21. Jones, on “CNN News Central,” defended Harris not doing interviews thus far, but said she eventually must do them because it’s an essential duty of a presidential candidate. (RELATED: ‘Kamala Was In On It’: Trump-Aligned PAC Drops Anti-Kamala Harris Ad Less Than Two Hours After Biden Quit)
WATCH:
‘It Can’t Last’: Van Jones Warns Kamala Harris Cannot Keep Ducking Media pic.twitter.com/riRRBgE9HU
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 7, 2024
“I think they’ve played it smart. It’s hard for people to remember, she’s been running for president for two weeks, literally for two weeks,” Jones said. “And so she had to get a lot done in those two weeks, she had to get the base of her party. She had to get the actual nomination. She had to pick a VP. So I’m not mad that she’s not doing 15 interviews a day, but it can’t last. It’s very important. And we can‘t make favorites. Anybody running for the top office needs to be as available as possible.”
Former President Donald Trump told popular online streamer Adin Ross during a Monday interview that Harris is avoiding interviews due to her inability to answer tough questions.
“She can’t talk to people. She can’t answer questions,” Trump said. “She hasn’t done one interview … she’s not doing any interviews because if she did one interview where a hard question’s asked, she’s incapable of answering it.”
Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, campaigning in Philadelphia, Aug. 6, 2024. (Screen Capture/CSPAN)
“You become president for all of the people so I feel you have an obligation to do that,” he added. “Now, she’s not doing anything. She’s not doing any interviews because I don’t believe she’s capable.”
However, Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky on Friday told CNN host Kate Bolduan that Harris should not face backlash for not avoiding interviews as she’ll be spending hundreds of millions of dollars on ads to portray the image she desires.
Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally with and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at Girard College on August 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – AUGUST 6: Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz talk on stage together during a campaign event at Girard College on August 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“She’s going to spend her $300 million defining herself on TV and on social media the way she wants, right?” Roginsky continued. “And she’s going to ultimately sit with you guys, I believe. But the bottom line is, that’s not what he should be coming after her on. He should be coming after her on positions that affect regular people who are voting. If you’re standing there saying, ‘well, you’re not sitting for an interview,’ the average person doesn’t have time to sit around worrying what Kamala Harris is doing, they just want to make sure she’s doing something to help them.”
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