I simply do not understand why Harris should sit for an interview until she has to. If she was guaranteed a win with zero interviews, I would hope she sat for zero interviews. Only one candidate is an existential threat to the country. That said, you do everything in your power to ensure they do not get elected. If that means no interviews, who cares. We can worry about what the candidates "owe" the process when Trump is but a distant memory.
I get what you're saying and don't necessarily disagree but she could do an interview with, say, Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC, and that would take the air out of this noisy non-issue.
Well, regarding trump’s coverage being 89% negative—it may have to do with the fact that trump is a negative guy. A bully, sophomoric sexual assaulter and convicted felon. Hard to spin that into a positive portrait.
I’m continually amazed at the self-importance exhibited by the media, and that includes you. Candidates don’t owe the media interviews. So far there’s been no public outcry for Kamala to hold press conferences or do one-on-one interviews. Only the media clamors for them, so they can seem to be important players in the race. Especially when only one candidate is remotely honest and ethical, giving Trump press coverage makes the media complicit in his mendacity. The media is shackled to the now-completely outdated concepts of fairness, equal time and “both sides ism”. Although most people in the media will likely vote for Harris, they will likely aid and abet Trump with their mindless efforts to get her to talk to them, rather than directly to the public.
i say again... Trump got the R nomination in 2020 with NO platform! why the h#ll does Harris have to come out and take a stand on anything? sure, it would be nice, but we are not in that world anymore.-is that earth 2.0 ? Trump says all manner of shit and no one, NO ONE complains, makes a fuss. Why should Haris/the Dems open themselves up? Harris is the "joyful" receptacle of all the non Trump people's desires. by saying anything she risks losing some folks. I say just keep laughing, I do not care what her platform is, she is not Trump, that is her platform.
And, yes, I am appalled that i can write that with a straight face. we are definitely not on earth 2.0
I just don't get this idea that Harris has to do a press conference. I don't recall Biden doing any in 2020, unless I missed them. She's still only been a candidate for a month. It's not like she dropped from Mars a month ago and nobody knows who she is. She'll get around to a press conference when she feels like it, and she will do the debate in a few weeks. She's not "hiding" from anyone.
And I disagree that two thirds of the country think we are on the wrong track. If that were so, we would have seen much stronger protests during the DNC than we did. We would not see the incumbent VP getting the support she is getting, not only in crowd sizes but in donations and volunteering. Yes people care about the economy and immigration, but millions also care about reproductive rights, which is a HUGE issue that favors Harris more than it did Biden, let alone Trump. And don't forget about something called "Democracy", which is very much on the ballot this time. People have not forgotten January 6, 2021. Have you?
I'll say it again: the right track/wrong track polling question is meaningless and downright deceptive.
I think President Biden and the Senate have the country on the right track. I think the do-nothing MAGA House and rogue rightwing Supreme Court have us on the wrong track. So my answer would be "both." Which isn't an option. The idea that the question is solely a question about the White House demonstrates just how worthless those numbers are.
How often over the last 20-30 years has the public thought that the country was on the "right track"? Is the "wrong track" majority larger than it has been in recent history?
However, I still don’t care two hoots if/when Harris does a press conference.
Your take still comes off to me as a media driven obsession. Wanting to show their importance to the world. The vast majority of the voting population just don’t care.
Good summary Chris. For posts like yours I remind myself that this status is a point in time. We do know things will continue to evolve. Agree the legacy media will dig in on a few not so good Harris stories, if for no other reason to present "balanced" coverage. I bet immigration will be one of the topics.
I'm willing to bet the Harris team has already planned media interviews - stand by. I'm not convinced a couple of formal media interviews will be a big deal or move the needle in a big way (other than for the media outlets, and political junkies). It is a check in the box, but it will take that talking point off the air - that is why she will do them. YES, she should engage with legacy media in short regular bursts - do more scrums on runways, go to the back of the plane and talk to press etc. etc.
Why won't the interviews matter? Because a large portion of the audience (young, unaffiliated, not engaged voters) Harris needs to motivate and mobilize doesn't pay attention to legacy media - period!
For this audience, importantly, she needs to continue the full court press in social media and providing fuel for the influencer/content creator communities ... so they can continue to do what they do best - amplify themes in unique and engaging ways.
I cannot agree with Chris' firm belief that any GOPer other than Trump would be significantly ahead. If Trump (and his lying and his bluster) was out of the picture completely the tenor of the country would be vastly different, I suspect. A certain percentage of people believe the country is in frightful shape because Trump tells them to believe that. Then you have folks like my wife & I, longtime retirees who prepared well for our retirement. For us, the country will be on the "wrong track" only if Trump gets back in office, if more Trump rioters try to overthrow the government again, etc. And, of course coverage of Trump is negative because almost everything Trump says is a lie and, at long last, some journalists are actually calling out the lies.
Re #5, Trump's ceiling almost equals his floor because Trump is a cult leader. His followers are mostly blind followers who live in a media bubble that constantly glorifies all things Trump.
Chris, your pieces, like this one, are hard for me to describe a reaction to. It's not "entertaining", nor merely "interesting". I found today's piece to be an informative must read. I read from top to bottom, with interest, and hand-to-chin, absorbing it, considering it. It's what I need to know, and your the journalist I trust to bring it to me.
Nice stats, Chris! Trump may have a hard ceiling, but he has a built in electoral advantage. Dems need a massive turnout. Independents, but probably more importantly, young people, will most likely decide it....
I was going to write a lengthy rebuttal to the MSM's self-important insistence that Harris present herself to them for their questions and assessments...but others have made my points and much better than I would have. I'd add just one more thing:
This is far less important to voters than it is to the MSM because we're not living in the pre-internet world that lacked round-the-clock coverage, ample access both to MSM and alternative media, and almost unlimited social media resources for candidates, their supporters AND opponents to present information about themselves, distinguished from their opposition, and what/where/why/how they want to proceed.
I most definitely "get" why the MSM doesn't like this: since they seem themselves as the arbiters of what is important, needs to be asked and answered. For better or worse, the world has moved on.
One more thing: Trump "presents" himself to the press constantly, and it's always a complete waste of time. Indeed, the MSM plays along and gives him exposure/free media, but I would suggest voters do not gain much from the experience.
The single most important number for me is Harris's steady increase in possible votes. If that number continues to slowly increase she should win. If it becomes erratic with jumps up and down then the Orange Blog wins. Slow and steady and the Old Man is buried.
Since Kamala didn’t know she would be running for president, she probably didn’t have all of her policies drawn up and memorized. I’m sure she’s in the process of doing that now, and will meet the press when she’s ready. She’s not trying to insult anyone, she just needs to be well prepared, as anyone else in her position would need to be.
I simply do not understand why Harris should sit for an interview until she has to. If she was guaranteed a win with zero interviews, I would hope she sat for zero interviews. Only one candidate is an existential threat to the country. That said, you do everything in your power to ensure they do not get elected. If that means no interviews, who cares. We can worry about what the candidates "owe" the process when Trump is but a distant memory.
I get what you're saying and don't necessarily disagree but she could do an interview with, say, Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC, and that would take the air out of this noisy non-issue.
Well, regarding trump’s coverage being 89% negative—it may have to do with the fact that trump is a negative guy. A bully, sophomoric sexual assaulter and convicted felon. Hard to spin that into a positive portrait.
Amen!
I’m continually amazed at the self-importance exhibited by the media, and that includes you. Candidates don’t owe the media interviews. So far there’s been no public outcry for Kamala to hold press conferences or do one-on-one interviews. Only the media clamors for them, so they can seem to be important players in the race. Especially when only one candidate is remotely honest and ethical, giving Trump press coverage makes the media complicit in his mendacity. The media is shackled to the now-completely outdated concepts of fairness, equal time and “both sides ism”. Although most people in the media will likely vote for Harris, they will likely aid and abet Trump with their mindless efforts to get her to talk to them, rather than directly to the public.
Chris
i say again... Trump got the R nomination in 2020 with NO platform! why the h#ll does Harris have to come out and take a stand on anything? sure, it would be nice, but we are not in that world anymore.-is that earth 2.0 ? Trump says all manner of shit and no one, NO ONE complains, makes a fuss. Why should Haris/the Dems open themselves up? Harris is the "joyful" receptacle of all the non Trump people's desires. by saying anything she risks losing some folks. I say just keep laughing, I do not care what her platform is, she is not Trump, that is her platform.
And, yes, I am appalled that i can write that with a straight face. we are definitely not on earth 2.0
I just don't get this idea that Harris has to do a press conference. I don't recall Biden doing any in 2020, unless I missed them. She's still only been a candidate for a month. It's not like she dropped from Mars a month ago and nobody knows who she is. She'll get around to a press conference when she feels like it, and she will do the debate in a few weeks. She's not "hiding" from anyone.
And I disagree that two thirds of the country think we are on the wrong track. If that were so, we would have seen much stronger protests during the DNC than we did. We would not see the incumbent VP getting the support she is getting, not only in crowd sizes but in donations and volunteering. Yes people care about the economy and immigration, but millions also care about reproductive rights, which is a HUGE issue that favors Harris more than it did Biden, let alone Trump. And don't forget about something called "Democracy", which is very much on the ballot this time. People have not forgotten January 6, 2021. Have you?
I'll say it again: the right track/wrong track polling question is meaningless and downright deceptive.
I think President Biden and the Senate have the country on the right track. I think the do-nothing MAGA House and rogue rightwing Supreme Court have us on the wrong track. So my answer would be "both." Which isn't an option. The idea that the question is solely a question about the White House demonstrates just how worthless those numbers are.
Exactly this!
How often over the last 20-30 years has the public thought that the country was on the "right track"? Is the "wrong track" majority larger than it has been in recent history?
Very good question! Chris?
Great piece today Chris.
However, I still don’t care two hoots if/when Harris does a press conference.
Your take still comes off to me as a media driven obsession. Wanting to show their importance to the world. The vast majority of the voting population just don’t care.
Good summary Chris. For posts like yours I remind myself that this status is a point in time. We do know things will continue to evolve. Agree the legacy media will dig in on a few not so good Harris stories, if for no other reason to present "balanced" coverage. I bet immigration will be one of the topics.
I'm willing to bet the Harris team has already planned media interviews - stand by. I'm not convinced a couple of formal media interviews will be a big deal or move the needle in a big way (other than for the media outlets, and political junkies). It is a check in the box, but it will take that talking point off the air - that is why she will do them. YES, she should engage with legacy media in short regular bursts - do more scrums on runways, go to the back of the plane and talk to press etc. etc.
Why won't the interviews matter? Because a large portion of the audience (young, unaffiliated, not engaged voters) Harris needs to motivate and mobilize doesn't pay attention to legacy media - period!
For this audience, importantly, she needs to continue the full court press in social media and providing fuel for the influencer/content creator communities ... so they can continue to do what they do best - amplify themes in unique and engaging ways.
Yes, many younger people pay no attention to the MSM.
I cannot agree with Chris' firm belief that any GOPer other than Trump would be significantly ahead. If Trump (and his lying and his bluster) was out of the picture completely the tenor of the country would be vastly different, I suspect. A certain percentage of people believe the country is in frightful shape because Trump tells them to believe that. Then you have folks like my wife & I, longtime retirees who prepared well for our retirement. For us, the country will be on the "wrong track" only if Trump gets back in office, if more Trump rioters try to overthrow the government again, etc. And, of course coverage of Trump is negative because almost everything Trump says is a lie and, at long last, some journalists are actually calling out the lies.
Agree 💯
Re #5, Trump's ceiling almost equals his floor because Trump is a cult leader. His followers are mostly blind followers who live in a media bubble that constantly glorifies all things Trump.
Exactly!
Chris, your pieces, like this one, are hard for me to describe a reaction to. It's not "entertaining", nor merely "interesting". I found today's piece to be an informative must read. I read from top to bottom, with interest, and hand-to-chin, absorbing it, considering it. It's what I need to know, and your the journalist I trust to bring it to me.
Nice stats, Chris! Trump may have a hard ceiling, but he has a built in electoral advantage. Dems need a massive turnout. Independents, but probably more importantly, young people, will most likely decide it....
I was going to write a lengthy rebuttal to the MSM's self-important insistence that Harris present herself to them for their questions and assessments...but others have made my points and much better than I would have. I'd add just one more thing:
This is far less important to voters than it is to the MSM because we're not living in the pre-internet world that lacked round-the-clock coverage, ample access both to MSM and alternative media, and almost unlimited social media resources for candidates, their supporters AND opponents to present information about themselves, distinguished from their opposition, and what/where/why/how they want to proceed.
I most definitely "get" why the MSM doesn't like this: since they seem themselves as the arbiters of what is important, needs to be asked and answered. For better or worse, the world has moved on.
One more thing: Trump "presents" himself to the press constantly, and it's always a complete waste of time. Indeed, the MSM plays along and gives him exposure/free media, but I would suggest voters do not gain much from the experience.
The single most important number for me is Harris's steady increase in possible votes. If that number continues to slowly increase she should win. If it becomes erratic with jumps up and down then the Orange Blog wins. Slow and steady and the Old Man is buried.
hard to take Kamala seriously given she won't sit for interviews or share more of her positions....it's an insult to undecided voters.
Since Kamala didn’t know she would be running for president, she probably didn’t have all of her policies drawn up and memorized. I’m sure she’s in the process of doing that now, and will meet the press when she’s ready. She’s not trying to insult anyone, she just needs to be well prepared, as anyone else in her position would need to be.
Do you think that the media are objective or corrupt? Are they owned by Republicans or Democrats?