What makes Harris inviting Walz to her big-time interview?

Three weeks ago, shortly after being officially selected as the Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris was questioned about her plans for a sit-down interview.

“I’ve spoken with my team,” she told reporters on the Detroit airport tarmac. “I want us to get an interview scheduled before the end of the month.”

On Thursday night, Harris will almost fulfill that promise, sitting down with CNN’s Dana Bash for her first significant interview. However, she will not be alone. The vice president will be accompanied by her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, for the prime-time appearance, which will air at 9:00 p.m. EDT (2:00 a.m. BST).

This interview addresses weeks of speculation about when and where Harris would have an in-depth discussion about her candidacy and agenda, which is a typical step for major party presidential candidates.

However, with Walz by her side, the appearance might also intensify criticism that after avoiding the demands of a lengthy presidential primary, she is now evading the scrutiny of a solo interview.

Joint interviews with both members of a presidential ticket are not uncommon. Barack Obama and Joe Biden appeared together on "60 Minutes" after Biden was chosen as the vice-presidential nominee in 2008.

Similarly, Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine did the same eight years later, and Harris and Joe Biden opted for ABC’s "20/20" in 2020. Recently, Trump and JD Vance were jointly interviewed on Fox shortly after Vance was announced as Trump’s running mate.

Since Joe Biden handed over the baton to her last month, Harris has mostly engaged with the press in controlled settings.

Her last formal interview was on June 24, over two months ago.

Her brief interactions with reporters—quick responses to questions shouted during her arrival and departure from campaign events—have done little to dispel Republican claims that she is avoiding detailed scrutiny of her record and agenda.

The harshest critiques come from her opponents, Donald Trump and JD Vance, both of whom have been active in interviews recently.

“She’s not smart enough to do a news conference,” Trump said earlier in August. “She won’t do interviews with friendly people because she can’t do better than Biden.”

Harris’s reluctance to face questions has fueled Republican claims that the Harris-Walz campaign is lacking in substance.

Scott Jennings, a former special assistant to President George W. Bush, criticized the joint appearance, calling it “weak sauce” and suggesting Harris shows a “troubling lack of confidence” in her political abilities.

Despite these criticisms, supporters of Harris argue that given the fast-paced nature of her campaign, she is taking a measured approach.

“The cadence has been right,” said Peter Giangreco, a Democratic strategist from Chicago. “Win the nomination, pick your nominee, lay out your economic plan, do your convention and now do some sit-downs and amplify that.”

Giangreco expects Harris and Walz to focus on their economic plan during the interview, which aims to lower the cost of living and provide economic security. Harris first unveiled this agenda at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, two weeks ago.

Walz’s presence during the interview could be beneficial, as he has received praise for his economic policies, including significant tax credits for families and universal free school lunches.

Additionally, Giangreco noted that a joint interview could also highlight the contrast between Walz and his Republican counterpart, Vance.

Since joining Trump’s ticket in July, Vance has faced challenges, including defending controversial past remarks such as his disparaging comments about “childless cat ladies.”

The true impact of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz's joint interview will only be clear once it airs.

Harris’s performance in high-pressure interviews has been mixed. For instance, a 2021 interview with NBC’s Lester Holt, where she struggled with questions about her role in the administration’s border policy, was widely viewed as unsuccessful.

In contrast, a more recent one-on-one with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, where she defended Joe Biden’s challenging debate performance, showcased Harris as composed and self-assured amidst a political storm.

If the upcoming CNN appearance is similarly well-received, much of the criticism surrounding Harris could dissipate, according to Republican strategist Chip Felkel.

“They [the campaign] just need to be able to say ‘see, we told you,’” Felkel said. “And then keep moving.”