US elections: Why is Kamala Harris bringing her vice presidential candidate Tim Walz to her first major interview? “She can’t do it without a babysitter”

Kamala Harrisnow the Democratic presidential candidatewill have its first major interview since her nomination. But the decision to bring her running mate, the governor of Minnesota Tim WalzThe interview drew criticism from opponents who claimed she needed a “babysitter” to handle difficult questions.
Three weeks ago, Harris promised reporters she would schedule an interview by the end of the month. On Thursday night, she will make good on that promise with a joint interview with Dana Bash on CNN. While such joint appearances are not unusual, critics argue that Harris’ decision to share the spotlight with Walz shows a lack of confidence in her ability to handle the interview alone.
“She’s not smart enough to do a press conference,” former President Donald Trump noted earlier this month, adding, “She doesn’t do interviews with friendly people because she can’t do it any better than Biden.”

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders also commented on Fox & Friends: “It’s clear that her own team and her own party think she needs a babysitter. And that’s why they’re putting their vice presidential candidate on stage with her so that he can step in and answer questions if things go the way they did in the clips we just saw, just as she has done in previous interviews.”

Harris’ supporters, however, argue that the decision to bring Walz along was strategic, as it allows both candidates to present a unified front and focus on their economic agenda. Democratic strategist Peter Giangreco defended the move, saying: “The rhythm was right… Now we’re sitting down together and amplifying that.” He added: “This is a smart, calculated move. It’s about showing unity and amplifying their message,” as quoted by the BBC.
Republican strategist Chip Felkel, a vocal Trump critic, sees the joint interview as a potential risk for Harris. “She has to go out there,” he said, according to the BBC. “She has to show that she can think under pressure, because that’s part of the president’s job. If she brings Walz because she doesn’t feel safe, that will be a problem.”
The vice president has limited her press engagements since Biden’s abrupt exit from the race; her last official interview was over two months ago. The joint interview with Walz, scheduled to air Thursday at 9 p.m. EDT (6:30 a.m. Friday in India), is seen by many as a defining moment for Harris to demonstrate her ability to react quickly and handle the pressures of a political environment where the stakes are high.
A CNN spokesperson defended the interview format, saying: “Dana Bash is a highly respected veteran journalist who has covered politics and politicians in Washington for over three decades. She has extensive experience interviewing major political figures and is well qualified to interview both Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. We look forward to speaking with her.”

As Harris prepares to face Trump in an upcoming ABC News debate, this interview could set the tone for her campaign. Whether the decision to share the stage with Walz will pay off remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: The criticism isn’t going away anytime soon. Republican strategist Scott Jennings summed it up by saying, “Showing up with your running mate is incredibly weak. It will only fuel further speculation about her readiness.”