In the hustle and bustle of the upcoming presidential race, the Harris-Walz ticket is drawing attention—not quite the kind they hoped for, though. It appears they are on track to make history, but not in a way that would earn them gold stars. In fact, the pair is set to conduct fewer interviews and news conferences than any other major party presidential pairing in modern U.S. history. That’s right folks, it has been 45 days since they joined forces, and to date, they have managed a measly 15 interviews combined. Meanwhile, former President Trump and GOP vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance have blitzed the media with a whopping 55 interviews. Now that’s a numbers game anyone would want to win!
Critics have taken notice, with some media outlets like the “New York Post” raising eyebrows and asking, “Where’s Kamala?” As Election Day approaches in two months, the vice president appears to be doing a remarkable job of dodging the press. Recently, she had a seemingly softball interview with Oprah Winfrey, where she touched on various topics, including the ever-contentious issue of gun control. While Harris joked about being a gun owner and how she would respond if a burglar invaded her home, many observers felt her responses were vague and opted for humor over substance. It makes one wonder if her strategy is less about engaging with the public and more about clocking time until the election rolls around.
The commentary surrounding her interview performance has been less than glowing. An editorial from the “Wall Street Journal” criticized Harris for being an “artless dodger,” suggesting that her evasive answers reflect a lack of genuine interest in substantial policy discussions. This seems to be a recurring theme in her approach—skirting the hard questions while trying to keep her exact positions as murky as possible. For someone who has been in the political game for a while, many are left scratching their heads over why she seems so dedicated to avoiding clear answers, especially given her mixed record on issues like fracking and immigration.
Furthermore, the Harris-Walz ticket may find itself facing pushback not just from the conservative side but from traditional Democratic allies as well. The Teamsters, a giant union with 1.3 million members, recently announced that they would not endorse either presidential candidate for the first time in 28 years. The union’s president declared this a “wake-up call,” indicating a discontent with the status quo among union members. With close to 60% of those members indicating support for Trump, it paints a picture of a group frustrated by a lack of representation for their values.
Considering the juxtaposition with Trump, who has made a concerted effort to engage with blue-collar workers and those who toil with their hands, it’s no wonder Teamsters members are feeling disenchanted. The perception of the Harris-Walz ticket as being disconnected from the everyday worker appears to be growing. With media strategies that lack transparency and accountability, not to mention a number of policy flip-flops, Harris’s perceived weaknesses could be increasingly problematic as Election Day nears. No wonder conservative voices are feeling bullish about Trump’s chances, especially with polling showing him gaining traction, particularly in key states like Pennsylvania.
As the Harris-Walz ticket continues its attempts at building a connection with the American people, one can only hope they’ll step out from behind the curtain and engage directly with the issues that matter. Otherwise, they might just be left on the sidelines, watching as their opponents take center stage. In politics, as in life, if you snooze, you lose— and with these kinds of stats, the other side might just seize the opportunity to turn up the heat.
