Harris signals new willingness to take risks as polls tighten

Vice President Harris is set to participate in a high-stakes interview with Fox News, an indication her campaign is willing to take more risks as polls tighten in the final weeks of the presidential campaign. 

The vice president faced scrutiny during her campaign’s early weeks over whether she was being too cautious. She limited her interactions with the press and offered a minimal policy agenda, even as she surged in the polls and raked in cash after replacing President Biden atop the Democratic ticket.

Her agreement to an interview with Fox’s Bret Baier highlights an effort to not play it safe in the final stretch and to try to appeal to voters wherever they may be. 

“Kamala Harris is fighting for every vote and meeting the voters where they are. Do I think she will pick up masses of voters by going on Fox? No, I don’t, but there might be some unsure voters watching. It also has the added benefit of showing her supporters and troops in the field, she is all in,” said Ivan Zapien, a former official at the Democratic National Committee (DNC). 

The campaign is reportedly also weighing an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, a move that would appeal to male voters but also carries risks given Rogan’s freewheeling style and past compliments of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

While Baier is known as a fair voice on Fox, that interview is sure to be her toughest. It’s preceded by an interview with Charlamagne tha God, who has been critical of Democrats. Last week on CBS News’s “60 Minutes,” she was pressed on the cost of her economic plan and her changing stances on top issues. Other interviews on podcasts, “The View,” and MSNBC have reached an array of voting blocs but have largely been friendly to her.

Harris has been trying to appeal to Republicans and independents, with endorsements from GOP voices like former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), and going on Fox broadens that effort. 

“It’s a cliché for a reason, but politics is about addition, not subtraction. By going on Fox News, the VP is showing that she will reach out to any and all voters. With an election this close, the margins matter and her campaign knows that if they can pick off a few soft Republicans, all the better,” said Clayton Cox, former DNC national finance director.

The Fox interview also comes as her campaign highlighted the contrast between her willingness to do difficult interviews with Trump’s approach in recent weeks of speaking mainly with friendlier audiences.

Trump backed out of a “60 Minutes” interview and scrapped an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

“I think she’s trying to grab the mantle of strength and leadership and contrast with Trump dodging debates and real interviews outside his safe space,” said Jesse Lee, a former Obama and Biden White House official.

Baier said Monday that if any editing on the interview is required, it would be for timing only, and he said no topic is off the table. His explanation about editing comes after Harris’s interview with CBS News sparked calls for a release of the full transcript after Trump accused the network of editing the interview to make her look more favorable.

Trump has also mocked Fox, calling the outlet “weak and soft” for choosing Baier for the Harris interview.

“Harris going on Fox seems like a high-risk, high-reward gambit to regain lost momentum, reach potential voters where they live and counter those who claim her extreme-media-avoidance proves she’s hiding something or lacking substance,” said Bruce Mehlman, an official under former President George W. Bush.

Trump on Tuesday sat for an interview with Bloomberg News, during which he clashed with the top editor over questions on his plans to impose a universal tariff on imports and his threats to use tariffs on American companies that outsource their manufacturing. Harris declined to participate in the interview with Bloomberg. 

Harris has for weeks positioned herself as the underdog in the presidential race, but polling in recent days has indicated the vice president has work to do in the closing weeks of the campaign.

Harris and Trump are essentially tied in the pivotal swing states that will decide the election in November. Nationally, Harris has a leads Trump by 2.9 percentage points, with 49.8 percent support compared to his 46.9 percent, according to Decision Desk HQ/ The Hill’s aggregation of polls.

Harris campaign spokesperson Ian Sams said on CNN that the strategy to go on Fox now is because “there’s a small number of undecided voters out there who are trying to make up their mind about which of these candidates is offering ideas that could help their lives.”