Harris Will Appear in a Whirlwind of Interviews, Most of Them Friendly

The New York Times ^ | Oct. 6, 2024, 5:03 a.m. ET | Reid J. Epstein

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Vice President Kamala Harris will engage in a media blitz this week, sitting for a series of mostly friendly interviews as her campaign shifts into exhorting her supporters to make sure they cast their votes.

The increased exposure on television, radio and podcasts comes with less than one month until Election Day as voters in several battleground states receive their absentee ballots in the mail.

Ms. Harris’s campaign announced on Sunday that she would appear on Tuesday on ABC’s “The View”; Howard Stern’s satellite radio program; and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

Ms. Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, had generally avoided news media interviews for weeks after she replaced President Biden as the Democratic nominee and added Mr. Walz to the ticket.

Last month, Ms. Harris’s top aides said she would soon embark on a robust media tour, though one unlikely to place her in front of many aggressive inquisitors. Her campaign, like that of former President Donald J. Trump, believes that the traditional strategy of interviews with broadcast networks and national newspapers is outdated and not worth the accompanying risks, because swing voters tend to get their political news from less traditional sources.

Indeed, Ms. Harris’s first cable television sit-down was with Stephanie Ruhle of MSNBC, a friendly face who days earlier had expressed her preference for Ms. Harris over Mr. Trump.

Likewise, many of those interviewing Ms. Harris this week have openly backed either her or Mr. Biden.

Mr. Colbert hosted fund-raisers for Mr. Biden in 2020 and again this year. Mr. Stern endorsed Mr. Biden in 2020 and hosted him for a warm interview in April.

Mr. Walz will appear on Tuesday on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Mr. Kimmel last month endorsed Ms...

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Most All of Them Friendly

Fixed it.

[rktman]

Hmmmmm? “whirlwind” and kowmala in the same sentence?

[ClearCase_guy]

She can mess up any interview, no matter how friendly.

[broken_clock]

Heels Up will be very clean from all these tongue bath interviews.

[FlingWingFlyer]

“I know! Let’s have a spelling contest!” - Doc Holliday.

[workerbee]

Ms. Harris’s campaign announced on Sunday that she would appear on Tuesday on ABC’s “The View”; Howard Stern’s satellite radio program; and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

Since when is 3 tongue-bath interviews a "whirlwind"?

Have these idiots seen President Trump's schedule?

[Luke21]

Her campaign, like that of former President Donald J. Trump, believes that the traditional strategy of interviews with broadcast networks and national newspapers is outdated and not worth the accompanying risks....

Huh?

[SMARTY]

Friendly interview = talking to yourself

[workerbee]

I can hear it now:

"You're Shmoopy!"
"No, YOU'RE Shmoopy!"

(hat tip to Seinfeld)

[Red6]

Good for her.

When you play it safe and go to the “friendly media,” you are really just addressing people that will vote for you anyhow. Harris may as well call her friends and family into a room and give a speech to them. No change in outcome.

If you want to make a difference, address those people where you can maybe swing some folks your way. Go to the “unfriendly media” and make good arguments in a way that connects to their audience, but try to control them so they don’t hijack the interview to completely smear and discredit you. Change in outcome.

A win is just swinging a small percentage your way.

JD would be a great way to do this. Yes, you’re asking him to jump into a shark tank, but the audience watching this gladiatorial show may have a few which gain respect for JD or even get convinced when hearing sound arguments despite what will be constant attempts to attack him... JD is a newer face, most people that dislike Trump have been conditioned to dislike him no matter what at this point (like Pavlov’s dog). JD may be able to actually have people listen to him. It’s dangerous, and for sure painful for JD, but it can pay off IMHO.

[fwdude]

Yes, pleeeeaaaaase, let her talk.

[xp38]

Friendly Fire

[paudio]

Good. The more interviews she gives, the more likely those ‘friendly hosts’ and their viewers realize how shallow she is. Like with Oprah, Kemala will need guidance before she can answer the questions.

[SaxxonWoods]

That won’t help her.

[broken_clock]

Haha, yep!

[HartleyMBaldwin]

What’s the old saying, something about it’s better to remain silent and have people wonder if you’re a fool....

[MinorityRepublican]

She can mess up any interview, no matter how friendly.

That's why she only did a few interviews so far. It's easy for her to mess up an interview and we'll all see it on X.

[Freee-dame]

JD was on nearly every network Sunday morning talkshow a few weeks ago. He did so well that they will never invite him back. I think he has done about 60 interviews since being named as a vice presidential candidate

[WeaslesRippedMyFlesh]

Sounds like shes going to blow through them all.

[Red6]

I’m behind the power curve.

Thanks for the update.

JD is earning his money! LOL