Vice President Kamala Harris has gone 15 days without holding a formal press conference since becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee as of Sunday. Harris essentially became the de facto nominee after President Biden endorsed her on July 21 when he dropped out of the race and she officially clinched the nomination on Friday. While she has been active on the campaign trail, speaking at various events and giving informal remarks to reporters, she has not engaged in a formal press conference or wide-ranging interview during the 15-day period.
Despite her absence from formal press conferences, Harris briefly addressed reporters alongside Biden as they greeted Americans freed from Russia in a prisoner swap. However, she did not attend the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago, where former President Trump engaged in a heated question-and-answer session.
The Democratic Party quickly rallied behind Harris following Biden's endorsement, but critics have started to notice her lack of engagement with tough questions. Some have called for her to hold a press conference to address various issues and defend her positions and record.
Media professionals have drawn comparisons between Harris and Biden's approach to media engagement, with some suggesting that Harris may be following Biden's strategy of limited press exposure. Despite calls for her to hold a press conference, the Harris campaign has not responded to requests for comment.
As the Democratic National Convention approaches in August, there is anticipation for Harris to make her running mate choice to challenge former President Trump in the upcoming election. While supporters have shown unwavering loyalty to Harris, some experts believe that she may need to engage in press conferences and real journalistic interviews to attract moderates and undecided voters.
