Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are set to have their first major television interview of the presidential campaign during a bus tour in southeast Georgia. The interview with CNN's Dana Bash aims to address criticism that Harris has avoided uncontrolled environments and provide a platform to define her campaign ahead of an upcoming debate with former President Donald Trump on Sept. 10.
Joint interviews during an election year are common in politics, with previous candidates like Biden, Trump, Pence, and Obama participating. However, Harris has not yet done an in-depth interview since becoming the party's standard bearer five weeks ago. The CNN interview will air at 9 p.m. EDT Thursday, coinciding with Harris' bus tour through southeast Georgia, culminating in a rally in Savannah.
The campaign believes that winning Georgia over Trump in November requires making inroads in GOP strongholds across the state. Harris has engaged in various media interviews during her time as vice president, contrasting with Trump's preference for conservative media outlets.
Following the CNN interview, Walz will depart, and Harris will continue the bus tour solo, visiting various locations to engage with voters. The campaign aims to reach voters in GOP-leaning areas and create viral moments that resonate with a broad audience.
Upcoming campaign events include a Labor Day blitz with Biden in Detroit and Pittsburgh, with the election drawing closer. The first mail ballots will be sent to voters in just two weeks, highlighting the urgency of the campaign's efforts.
