As the Democratic National Convention gets underway, one topic that’s hard to ignore is the role Vice President Kamala Harris is playing—and how her team is managing her public image. You’ve likely noticed that Harris hasn’t been as front-and-center with the media as one might expect for a candidate at the top of the ticket. There’s a reason for that, and it’s causing quite a stir.
Let’s be honest—Harris’s public appearances have often been criticized for being less than coherent. Her speeches and responses to questions have sometimes come across as word salads, leaving listeners scratching their heads. This issue is one of the reasons her team seems to be keeping her somewhat shielded from the media.
When she does take questions, the results can be, well, less than ideal. It’s no wonder that her policy positions aren’t prominently featured on her website—doing so would invite more scrutiny and questions that her team isn’t eager for her to answer directly.
Kamala just took an ultra rare question from the press on how she plans on paying for her economic plan
She used the phrase “return on investment” 4 times in one minute and says she’ll reduce “child povracy” by 50%
She’s either nervous, drunk, or both
Not ready for prime time pic.twitter.com/wQ1DrwHvrQ
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) August 18, 2024
The strategy here seems clear: keep Harris away from situations where she might be pressed on the details of her domestic agenda, which is both expensive and ambitious. The worry is that she might not handle those questions well, especially when it comes to explaining how she plans to pay for these proposals.
This approach is reminiscent of the Biden campaign’s strategy in 2020, where the media did much of the heavy lifting in explaining and promoting the candidate’s policies. Harris’s team appears to be banking on a similar strategy working again, but there’s a significant risk involved.
The concern among some is that this approach highlights Harris’s weaknesses rather than hiding them. If she’s unable to engage effectively with the media or go off-script without stumbling, it raises questions about her viability as a candidate, especially with Donald Trump waiting in the wings, eager to debate her. It’s not just about managing her public appearances—it’s about whether Harris can convincingly sell her agenda to the American people, something that becomes increasingly difficult when she avoids direct media engagement.
Harris surrogate Kaivan Shroff on @ABCNewsLive: “The more details you share the more your policies get picked apart but what [Kamala] is saying is… she trusts journalists to explain these policies and our values to folks. When that happens it will be successful for Democrats.”
— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) August 19, 2024
The Democratic Party’s decision to rally around Harris after President Biden’s departure from the race may have seemed like the obvious choice, but it’s also a decision that comes with challenges. Her team’s reliance on the media to explain her policies and smooth over her public missteps isn’t a foolproof plan. The media can only do so much to spin or cover for awkwardness and unclear messaging. At some point, the candidate has to step up and connect with voters in a way that’s clear, confident, and convincing.
