CNN’s Scott Jennings didn’t hold back in his critique of Vice President Kamala Harris following her performance at a recent town hall, labeling her responses as “nothing, nothing, nothing” and going as far as to say, if Harris were an animal, she’d be a “duck-billed platitude.”
Jennings, a conservative commentator who served under George W. Bush, joined a CNN panel with Erin Burnett and others to break down Harris’s town hall, where her responses struck some as overly scripted and evasive. According to Jennings, Harris’s answers failed to clarify what policies she would champion as president—essentially giving viewers no indication of a distinct platform from the Biden administration, which she has supported as vice president.
Jennings humorously yet pointedly criticized Harris’s tendency to avoid direct answers, saying she dodged every tough question. As Jennings described, she didn’t respond to queries about any policy differences from President Biden or concrete legislative priorities. Instead, her answers relied on familiar talking points, especially regarding issues like the economy, abortion rights, and immigration—areas she often defaults to in other public addresses.
On the same CNN panel, Democratic strategist David Axelrod added his thoughts, acknowledging Harris’s strong stance on abortion rights but echoing concerns about her broader presentation.
Axelrod observed that Harris’s approach to other complex topics, like the Israel-Hamas conflict, was marked by lengthy, roundabout responses. He noted that when Harris was asked directly by Anderson Cooper if she would be “stronger on Israel than Trump,” she responded with a seven-minute answer that left the initial question unanswered.
My rebuttal to last night’s @cnn Kamala Harris town hall: if she were an animal, she’d be a duck-billed platitude. Took on the “flawless vs lawless” construct with Erin and friends. pic.twitter.com/MJjw5U9QRF
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) October 24, 2024
Axelrod suggested that Harris might gain more traction if she allowed for some acknowledgment of shortcomings in the administration’s policies, especially on immigration.
Both Jennings and Axelrod seemed to agree that Harris could strengthen her campaign by connecting more meaningfully with voters.
Axelrod argued that Harris’s biggest asset could be differentiating herself as the candidate with a “to-do list,” contrasting it with Trump’s supposed “enemies list.” However, without direct answers on pressing topics, that message may be getting lost in the mix.
With Election Day drawing near, the town hall raised questions about whether Harris can deliver a compelling vision distinct from the Biden administration—a critical factor for undecided voters still on the fence.
