Survey Expert Confirms the Obvious: Democrats Prefer Keeping Kamala Harris Away from the Press
Democrats are now openly stating their desire for Kamala Harris to continue avoiding the press.
During an interview with NBC on Sunday, Democratic pollster Cornell Belcher dismissed PBS’s Amna Nawaz’s requests for Harris to engage with journalists.
“Interviews are where candidates face tough questions and challenges that they may not address on the campaign trail and in prepared speeches,” Nawaz (rightly) pointed out. “It fosters a dialogue that is beneficial for voters and democracy.”
But according to Belcher, it’s not beneficial for Democrats: “As a campaign operative, no. She should focus on speaking directly to voters and campaigning the way they typically do . . . I don’t think she should be speaking to the media right now.”
Harris isn’t truly engaging with voters, but more so talking at them — reading from a teleprompter at events that shield her from any real interactions that could be potentially embarrassing.
Belcher didn’t need to elaborate on why he doesn’t want the Democratic nominee to face any form of media scrutiny: It’s widely understood that she would struggle.
Even a sympathetic reporter might bring up her inconsistent stance on issues such as fracking and healthcare — or press for specifics on any of her policy proposals.
She could be caught in a falsehood, like when she claimed to have visited the border, only to be corrected by Lester Holt.
Or resort to using confusing rhetoric.
Or break into fits of laughter.
Allowing Harris to endure questioning and scrutiny could damage the Democratic party’s prospects: Harris’ past performance in the 2019 presidential race (which didn’t extend into 2020) demonstrated that the more voters learn about her, the less appealing she becomes.
All Democrats want voters to know is that she’s not Donald Trump, she’s younger than Joe Biden, and she stands firmly for truth, justice, and the American way (along with supporting abortion rights).
Regarding media interaction being “beneficial for democracy” . . . maybe after the Election Day.
Plainly speaking, Belcher was unusually candid for a “campaign operative” in articulating the situation.
And, truth be told, much more candid than the media figures attempting to shield Harris through a modified version of Joe Biden’s 2020 basement strategy in light of the COVID-19 era.