Harris’ Media Blitz Backfires

• Kamala Harris went on a media circuit after suspicions that she was hiding from voters

• Clips of her dodging tough questions, stuttering, and invoking strange ethnic accents have gone viral

• Democrat insiders now say the media hits are proving ineffective for the campaign

The story

Vice President Kamala Harris is drawing mockery for her seemingly awkward, unprepared demeanor during media interviews, mimicking some of the same issues that led to her boss’ political downfall.

President Joe Biden stepped down as the Democratic presidential nominee in July amid growing concerns about the 81-year-old’s mental acuity — a problem characterized by on-camera fumbles such as his gaffes, stuttering, and losing his train of thought.

Recent viral moments for Harris, however, have been similarly damaging. For example, many of her responses during a CBS News interview with Bill Whitaker were mocked as a meaningless “word salad.”

At first, some Democrats feared that Harris was hiding from tough interviews in a way that hurt her credibility with voters.

But now, the efforts to bring her out of “the basement” are backfiring. Her performance is supplying a flurry of material for her opponents, leaving Democrats in a difficult position three weeks ahead of the election.

The politics

Donald Trump’s campaign has already capitalized on moments from Harris’ interviews.

One viral clip from The View shows a host asking Harris if she would do anything differently as president than Biden. She replied, “There is not a thing that comes to mind … and I’ve been a part of most of the decisions that have had impact.”

Conservatives amplified this as evidence that Americans would see four more years of Biden-esque leadership under Harris.

Critics also focused on her non-answer to a question during her CBS interview about whether it was right to “allow” a record-breaking influx of illegal migrants into the country.

The vice president dodged the question three times, eventually blaming Congress for not passing legislation, despite the fact that her administration has a wealth of executive power to secure the border.

Thus, the Trump campaign has come to welcome Harris’ increased media presence. “Every time she opens her mouth, I think Donald Trump and I gain about 100,000 votes,” vice presidential candidate JD Vance joked.

Politically, Democrats’ hands are tied; if Harris retreats from the media spotlight once again, she risks signaling defeat and proving to voters that she is incapable of handling basic questions from the press.

Going off-script

Harris is earning the reputation of a “scripted” candidate who relies on throwaway lines and teleprompters since she struggles with speaking off the cuff.

Late-night host Stephen Colbert tried to help by giving her a can of beer on his show to make her relatable to ordinary people — a move he told her about before the interview.

Meanwhile, Harris’ “off-script” moments come across to many as awkward. Her tone, flustered facial expression, and stuttering when answering some questions make it appear as though she is unprepared and struggling for an answer.

Harris has also gotten flak for speaking with several different accents throughout her appearances, sometimes tailoring them toward certain audiences, such as black or Hispanic voters.

This even led a Fox News reporter to ask the White House about the trend — and an MSNBC column claiming that “ignorance about black people” is why some find it strange.

Why it matters

Trump is not immune to turning off some voters with his demeanor or verbal signals. However, he conveys much more confidence as a speaker than Harris, even during interviews with unfriendly hosts, which Harris has avoided completely.

Democrat operatives now say that Harris’ wave of media hits is failing to win support. Much like the press conferences that broke Biden’s campaign last summer, these appearances were a crucial opportunity for Harris to prove herself, but they may end up making things worse for the campaign.