CNN Guest Says Harris Avoiding Interviews ‘Raised The Stakes’ For Debate

Axios reporter Alex Thompson said Monday that Kamala Harris’ strategy of avoiding interviews significantly raises the stakes for Tuesday night’s debate.

Aside from an Aug. 29 interview with CNN host Dana Bash alongside Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, Harris has not granted a sit-down interview or press conference since President Joe Biden announced he was ending his reelection bid July 21. Thompson said that Harris, who was uncomfortable in unscripted settings, may have “raised the stakes” for Tuesday’s debate with former President Donald Trump.

“Let’s remember that some of her worst moments as vice president were in some of these unscripted interview moments. She is not usually as comfortable in those settings,” Thompson told “CNN News Central” host Brianna Keilar. “At the same time, by not doing interviews — she still has not done one solo interview — by not doing interviews, she’s raised the stakes for every unscripted moment that she has. That’s why tomorrow night’s debate has really become this really pivotal moment for her because the fact is that a lot of Americans, as many as 30%, say that they don’t know enough about her yet. And so this, for many voters, especially those critical voters in those swing states, this is going to be their first impression of her. So it’s a really, you know, it’s a moment that’s really pivotal for her campaign.”

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Harris currently leads Trump by 1.2% in the RealClearPolling average of polls from Aug. 22 to Sept. 6. Her lead grows