Since becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris has refrained from major media interactions, raising questions about her campaign strategy, Breitbart reported.

Vice President Kamala Harris was named the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee on July 22, immediately after President Joe Biden announced his decision not to seek reelection and endorsed Harris. This significant shift in the Democratic candidate landscape comes as the 2024 presidential race heats up.

Shift in Democratic Nomination Raises Eyebrows

President Joe Biden's unexpected withdrawal from the race on July 21 and endorsement of Vice President Harris as his successor marked a pivotal moment in the upcoming election. His endorsement signaled strong support for continuity in Democratic leadership.

In the days following her nomination, Harris has noticeably avoided substantial press interactions. Instead, she has focused her communications on controlled speeches and specific issue addresses, particularly topics like abortion—a key issue for many voters.

While Harris has faced minor questions from reporters, these interactions have yet to evolve into significant interviews or press conferences, contrasting sharply with the more open approach of previous candidates.

Comparison to 2020's 'Basement Campaign'

Former President Donald Trump had criticized then-presidential candidate Joe Biden during the 2020 campaign for what he described as a "basement" strategy, referring to Biden's limited public appearances and controlled interaction with the media. Despite this critique, Biden went on to win the presidency, which some argue proves that more media engagement is beneficial to a successful campaign.

Trump commented in April 2020, setting a tone of ridicule toward Biden's minimalistic public approach, possibly to contrast his own more visible campaign style. "We have a sleepy guy in the basement of a house that the press is giving a free pass to, who doesn't want to do debates because of Covid," Trump remarked, illustrating his point of view on the matter.

Harris's Media Strategy: An Echo of Biden's Approach?

Observers like Jeffrey McCall, a commentator on political media strategies, suggest that avoiding the press might actually be a strategic move from the Harris camp. "The Harris camp is also well aware that their candidate doesn't do well in unscripted settings," McCall noted, implying that controlled messages could favor the campaign by minimizing potential gaffes.

"Thus, a rerun of the Biden basement campaign sounds pretty good, as long as you throw in a couple of rallies with Megan Thee Stallion," McCall added, hinting at the need for some public appearances mixed with controlled media engagement.

McCall further argued that while this approach may serve immediate needs, engaging more openly with the press could eventually benefit Harris, especially in attracting moderate and undecided voters. "It would benefit Harris from a 'rhetorical strategy standpoint' to engage with the press," he explained, underscoring the potential long-term importance of broadening her appeal.

Public and Media Reaction to Campaign Strategy

Harris' decision to limit press interaction has spawned various speculations and discussions among voters and analysts alike. Some align this strategy with a tactical avoidance of potential missteps, given the high stakes of the presidential race.

Engaging with the media and the public could demonstrate Harris's capacity to respond in real-time, an aspect many political onlookers deem crucial for a presidential candidate.

Conclusion: Analyzing Harris's Media Approach

To summarize, Vice President Kamala Harris has continued to avoid substantial interviews and press interactions 11 days after securing the Democratic presidential nomination. Her campaign has instead focused on controlled speeches on key issues like abortion, mirroring, to some extent, President Joe Biden's minimalistic 2020 campaign strategy.

This method of campaign management could be either a strategic maneuver to control messaging or a potential risk in failing to engage more diverse voter demographics.