Harris to Give First Interview to CNN Since Announcing Presidential Run

Vice President Kamala Harris is taking a seat with CNN this week for her first interview since President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid. The Democratic presidential nominee will be joined by her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in an interview with CNN anchor Dana Bash in Savannah, Georgia. The interview is scheduled to air on Thursday.

Harris' limited visibility has become a major point of criticism from Republicans since she rose to the top of the Democratic ticket following Biden's July 21 announcement. The upcoming CNN interview could provide an opportunity for Harris to address concerns about her preparedness for unscripted situations, but it also poses risks as her team aims to capitalize on the momentum from the ticket reshuffle and the Democratic National Convention.

Throughout her more than three years as vice president, Harris has participated in numerous on-camera and print interviews with outlets like The Associated Press, often more frequently than Biden. The Trump campaign has been tracking the number of days she has gone without giving an interview as a candidate. On Tuesday, the campaign commented on the news of her upcoming joint interview, suggesting it indicated her inability to handle an interview independently. Earlier this month, Harris had expressed a desire to conduct her first formal interview before the end of August.

Kamala Harris travels with members of the media on Air Force Two for all her trips and usually visits the back of the plane to speak with them for a few minutes before takeoff. Her office maintains that these conversations are off the record, meaning her remarks cannot be used publicly.

On Thursday, she will rally voters in Savannah as part of a bus tour that begins on Wednesday.