Vice President Kamala Harris is set to give her first interview as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee on Thursday to CNN, marking a crucial moment in her campaign as she faces increasing pressure to defend her record and policies.
However, Harris, 59, won’t be tackling the interview alone. CNN is billing it as a “joint interview,” featuring both Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The interview, conducted by CNN anchor Dana Bash, will air at 9 p.m. ET from Georgia, where Harris and Walz will be conducting a bus tour of the key battleground state.
Since President Biden announced on July 21 that he would not seek a second term and endorsed Harris as his successor, the vice president has avoided media interviews, drawing criticism from Republicans and the press. Her absence from the media spotlight has contributed to a nearly six-week “honeymoon” period, during which Harris has gained ground in the polls against GOP nominee Donald Trump.
Bash, who co-moderated the pivotal June 27 CNN debate in Atlanta—where President Biden’s faltering performance led to his decision to step aside in favor of Harris—will be leading the high-stakes interview.
* The New York Post contributed to this article.