Last night, Kamala Harris was torn apart for her “word salad” responses in a bland interview with liberal media, her first since Joe Biden resigned 40 days ago.
The Democratic candidate appeared alongside her running mate, Tim Walz, for an hour-long broadcast, which actually amounted to less than half an hour of actual questions from Dana Bash.
Liberal commentators claimed she had succeeded in following the principle of “do no harm” during the pre-recorded broadcast from Savannah, Georgia.
But Harris’s critics said she failed to address three issues plaguing her campaign: the border crisis, soaring inflation and the cover-up of Biden’s health.
David Axelrod, Obama’s former strategist, delivered a brutal verdict in CNN’s postgame analysis, claiming Harris had not “moved the ball forward all that much.”
Former Bush adviser Scott Jennings has issued an ominous warning that Donald Trump will be “salivating” ahead of the September 10 presidential debate, their first face-to-face meeting.
Frank Luntz, the GOP polling guru, echoed that sentiment, tweeting: “A lot of people think Kamala Harris has done well so far in this interview. I disagree — a good debater will have an easy time challenging her.”
Kamala Harris speaking during her interview alongside Tim Walz on CNN Thursday night. The appearance – her first interview since Biden dropped out 40 days ago – was torn apart by her “word salad” responses
Tim Walz and Kamala Harris met with CNN’s Dana Bash in Savannah, Georgia
He added: “If tonight’s interview is judged not on policy but on performance, Kamala Harris will be exposed.”
Bash, a CNN loyalist who has worked at the liberal network since graduating from college, was accused of failing to land any major blows. Harris HQ hailed the interview as a major triumph. Donald Trump told his Truth Social followers it was “BORING!!!”
Daily Mail columnist Andrew Neil said Harris “absolved herself of responsibility in covering up Biden’s cognitive decline” and added that CNN gave a “masterclass in how not to hold politicians to account.”
Former Trump adviser Steve Cortes called it a “disaster.”
Harris sometimes appeared nervous and hesitant in her responses, which many on social media described as “word salad.”
Axelrod said Harris was forced into the precarious position of taking “credit for the things that are good and trying to get away from the things that aren’t.”
New York Times political reporter Astead Herndon agreed, admitting: “I don’t think there’s a political separation that (the Harris campaign) has created with Biden.”
On economic news, Harris sought to blame Trump for “price gouging” on food, a stance on inflation that has been rebuked by Wall Street as it ignores the huge increases in many commodities, particularly gasoline, since Bidenomics took hold.
Jennings told CNN: “I had no additional thoughts about the economic situation of the country or what they’ve done, other than the idea that Joe Biden and I have done a great job.”
On immigration, Harris said her work “on the root causes” had reduced the number of illegal immigrants.
But the vice president, who was appointed “border czar” by Biden, has presided over record immigration that has seen American cities, including those thousands of miles from Mexico, overrun by crime and homelessness.
David Axelrod, Obama’s former strategist, delivered a brutal verdict in CNN’s postgame analysis, claiming Harris had not “moved the ball forward all that much.”
Scott Jennings, a former Bush adviser, issued the ominous warning that Donald Trump will be “salivating” ahead of the September 10 presidential debate – their first face-to-face meeting – and Harris’s first hostile television appearance.
Perhaps most damning of all was Harris’s defense of Biden’s suitability to serve in the Oval Office.
She took over as commander-in-chief, aged 81, after the Democratic Party criticised him for disastrous poll results, with voters deeply concerned about his apparent cognitive decline.
Harris told Bash: “I’ve spent hours and hours with (Biden), whether it’s in the Oval Office or the Situation Room, and he has the intelligence, the commitment, the judgment and the disposition that I think the American people deserve in their president.”
Jennings said on CNN’s post-interview show that the American people would disagree with his characterization of the president and consider it dishonest.
‘S“He took no responsibility at the end of the day to tell the American people that Joe Biden was fine and that he was strong, when we all know that’s not true, and that’s why he’s out of the race,” she said.
“I think most Americans know the truth and when you run for president and you’re willing to look them in the face and tell them something you know isn’t true, that speaks to your character.”
GOP polling guru Frank Luntz tweeted: “A lot of people think Kamala Harris has performed well so far in this interview. I disagree – a good debater will have an easy time challenging her.”
Harris has enjoyed a honeymoon period since taking over from Biden, boosted significantly by generous reporting from liberal media and polls showing her taking the lead in key states where Democrats had faced annihilation under the outgoing president.
The Harris campaign now looks ahead to the presidential debate on ABC on Sept. 10.
Trump will create a hostile environment that he has so far managed to avoid.
Jennings said last night: ‘She’s trying to skip a block of time, and in the debate, Trump won’t allow that.’