Vice President Kamala Harris has been inundated with queries for more than five weeks since she announced her presidential candidacy regarding her plans for a significant interview or press conference.

This long-awaited moment will arrive Thursday evening when Harris is set to be interviewed by Dana Bash on CNN. However, it’s already showing signs of trouble, as her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, will be joining her for the interview.

This presidential election is unlike any we’ve seen recently, following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race on July 21 and his endorsement of Harris, who has launched a revamped campaign in a tight timeframe. It was inevitable that things would be unconventional and, at times, unusual.

Still, does the Democratic nominee truly require her running mate to be involved in her first substantial interview, thereby sharing the spotlight that should rightfully be hers for at least one evening?

Why is Harris sharing the spotlight?

Did Harris insist that CNN include Walz in the interview? Or did CNN independently suggest the joint format?

CNN did not provide a response to my inquiry on Tuesday and again on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Harris campaign indicated that joint interviews are a common occurrence in presidential campaigns and emphasized this point earlier on social media.

Nonetheless, it appears that Harris may be requiring Walz to accompany her for this important interview, even as her campaign sidestepped the question.

She had the leverage in this situation. The first prominent interview for Harris is a significant opportunity in a competitive news environment. CNN, having landed this interview, likely didn’t want to upset her by mentioning any stipulations she might have had.

Admittedly, joint interviews are typical in presidential campaigns, usually scheduled around the time of the nominee’s party convention to formally announce the ticket. With the general election on November 5 still nearly ten weeks away, there remains ample time for Harris and Walz to conduct a joint interview.

This was an opportunity for Harris to shine independently, to address the questions surrounding her governing style, and to prove her presidential capabilities to a broader audience. However, that is not what we are presented with.

Joint interviews are not unusual, but rarely start early in a campaign

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee making his third bid, launched his first presidential campaign in June 2015. He chose Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate in July 2016, just two days ahead of the Republican National Convention. They participated in their first joint interview with “60 Minutes” on CBS News on the eve of the RNC.

Trump did a multitude of interviews in the 13 months prior to his first joint discussion with Pence.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced her second presidential campaign in April 2015, designating U.S. Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate by July 2016. They had their first joint interview with “60 Minutes” two days later, right before the Democratic National Convention.

Clinton, who was well-acquainted with the media, engaged in numerous interviews prior to her joint appearance with Kaine on CBS News.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, who began his fourth presidential campaign in April 2019, chose Kamala Harris as his running mate in August 2020, shortly before the initially delayed Democratic National Convention, which largely took place virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

They conducted their first joint interview with ABC News the day following the conclusion of the convention.

Biden had extensive experience in the Senate from 1973 until 2009, and Harris, a former district attorney in San Francisco and California’s attorney general, had served in the Senate from 2017 to 2021. They were no strangers to significant media interviews.

Harris has much to demonstrate to voters

Harris has experienced a remarkable rise in support since re-entering the presidential race. Democratic voters have been Concerns are being raised about whether President Biden, who is 81, is too old and fragile to compete against Trump, who is 78.

On the other hand, Harris, who will turn 60 just 16 days before the election, represents a different situation.

Choosing Walz, who is also 60 and brings an element of enthusiasm to the campaign, has provided Harris with some momentum. The recent Democratic National Convention, which concluded in Chicago last week, further bolstered her campaign.

A major interview could offer the next advantageous opportunity. Alternatively, Harris might encounter significant obstacles. She has altered her stance on several contentious topics such as increasing the border wall, fracking for natural gas, and reallocating funds from police to social services. It’s essential for her to articulate her views clearly on these matters. Walz should not hinder this communication.

Since her unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2020, Harris has become a more skilled campaigner. Yet, she has also faced significant challenges along the way.

Trump’s team enjoys highlighting an interview Harris had with NBC News’ Lester Holt in June 2021, where she struggled to justify her lack of visits to the southern border after being tasked by Biden to analyze the causes of migration. It was a reasonable question.

Harris stumbled in her response, appearing defensive.

Trump is currently exhibiting unusual restraint

Trump is being cautious about commenting on Harris and their joint interview for the moment. He shared a screenshot on his social media platform, Truth Social, featuring a Fox News segment that criticized her decision. This level of restraint is atypical for Trump.

This could indicate a rare moment of Trump recognizing his own vulnerabilities.

As I mentioned last month, Trump declared his candidacy for a second term in November 2022 but then kept his campaign confined for 20 months within the safe realm of right-wing cable news, where hosts are careful about not pushing any buttons with the sensitive politician.

Through a couple of disjointed news conferences in Florida and New Jersey, along with a disastrous presentation at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, Trump hasn’t done much to counter the rising perception that Harris is gaining on him in both polling and momentum.

This context makes it clear that Harris’s choice to shy away from stepping into the spotlight alone is a miscalculation. She has inherited from Biden the responsibility to demonstrate that America can and must aim higher than Trump, who increasingly seems ready to dismantle the safeguards that protect democracy.

This is her opportunity to shine, to differentiate herself from Trump, and to present something more valuable and positive. Why risk letting a running mate overshadow that opportunity?

Stay updated with YSL News elections columnist Chris Brennan on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ByChrisBrennan