Staff Reports
A recent profile on Vice President Kamala Harris brought to light a glaring absence—Harris’s own insights on key topics like the economy and foreign relations. While Time Magazine had its questions ready to go, Harris decided to play hide-and-seek with the press, choosing to sidestep tough inquiries in favor of cozy chats on friendly podcasts. In stark contrast, former President Donald Trump gave a marathon 90-minute interview, reminding everyone of the stark differences in their approach to transparency.
As big decisions loom ahead, it’s puzzling why Harris would skip engaging directly with the voters who might swing the election in her favor. She seems to have taken a page from President Joe Biden’s playbook from 2020, opting for smooth sailing through friendly waters rather than weathering the storm of tough questions from mainstream media. Meanwhile, Trump has longstanding appeal among men and minority voters, a demographic in which Harris appears to be running a grand game of “not what I will do, but what I won’t do.” For instance, her promising to safeguard abortion rights and avoid mass tariffs might not be enough to win over voters when she’s sidestepping the very questions that matter to them.
Time magazine put Kamala on the cover of the magazine and the Democratic Party completed the coup of Joe Biden.
Now she’s avoiding doing an interview with them. pic.twitter.com/9BccrlPNk7
— Unknown Mike (@MichaelHar21269) October 14, 2024
The world is watching as Harris aligns herself with the Biden administration’s strategy of remaining under the radar — a tactic that worked when the most significant challenge was just not being Trump. Unfortunately, with inflation and high prices now a part of Americans’ daily reality, this approach could backfire spectacularly. Voters, conditioned by the economic success under Trump, are beginning to reassess their loyalties, and Harris’s inability to own her policies is not helping her case.
With the steep lessons learned from the 2019 primaries, where detailed policy proposals led to the demise of candidates like Elizabeth Warren, Harris seems to be playing it safe. A Brookings Institute expert noted her strategy appears to be avoiding the mud of policy details, as most voters aren’t likely to choose a candidate based on intricate economic plans. If this were a game of dodgeball, Harris is keeping her head down and not throwing any balls.
Recent polling hints that the bloom is off the rose for Harris, with her once-comfortable lead over Trump dwindling significantly. A recent ABC News-Ipsos poll puts her ahead by a slim 2%, and an NBC News survey indicates a dead heat. Just last month, she was comfortably ahead by five points. It’s almost ironic that while she ducks direct questions, her standing in the polls reflects a rising concern among voters who are increasingly recognizing the limitations of her leadership style. In the political arena, it seems the longer she plays it safe, the riskier the game becomes.
