Oscar Wilde once quipped that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Could that be why it seems as though Kamala Harris is currently in a very flattering mood toward her presidential competitor, Donald Trump? In the wake of her recent interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, pundits and politicos appear to have missed the whole point of her stepping into the proverbial lion’s den. She wasn’t trying to win over Republican voters.
A Homage to the Trumpian
It is no secret that President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris share a joint disdain for the Fox network. Recall 2022 when Biden called Peter Doocy a “stupid son of a b****.” Indeed, Democrat-friendly media outlets have even called for the channel to be shut down. “I’d like to see pressure on advertisers to withdraw from Fox News so long as it functions as an extremist madrasa, and cable providers should be asked why they distribute channels that peddle lies,” opined The New York Times. MSNBC echoed the same sentiment, and its regular commentator asked, “Should Fox News be allowed to exist? Brain-mashing as a business model shouldn’t be legal.”
So why would Kamala provide views to a news outlet that her cohorts deride and dismiss with such regularity? The answer is simple: She wasn’t trying to win over their viewership; she was playing to her base to shore up her flagging momentum. As evidenced by the combative tone in the Fox interview, it was never going to be a session in which she would thoughtfully expound upon her policy proposals. Harris was determined to turn almost every answer into a segue that attacked Trump. It seemed as if her goal was to leave the interview to the applause of her loyal fanbase. In that, she was successful.
It is a tactic Donald Trump has often used. He is no stranger to hostile media environments and is largely willing to go head-to-head with the legacy media whenever the occasion arises. It has served him well in terms of solidifying his hardcore base. What is perhaps most pertinent is that Kamala, with fewer than three weeks until Election Day, feels the need to keep likely supporters on her side.
As Liberty Nation News’ Election Countdown reports, looking at the last five most recent surveys from the seven crucial battleground states (for a total of 35), Kamala takes the lead in only seven. It appears she is hemorrhaging voter support where it most matters. Perhaps stanching the flow is more important than trying to persuade voters who don’t like her anyway.
Kamala Embraces the Trump Playbook
Some people would probably argue that Donald Trump thrives in hostile interviews. Does he convince loyal Democrats with his often-bombastic rhetoric? Likely not. But that is rarely the point. When the former president engages in press gaggles and sit-down chats, he doesn’t expect an easy ride. He knows that every word he says – or has said in the past – will be scrutinized with the least friendly interpretation. Yet he continues to make himself available.
Conversely, Ms. Harris has now gone a full three months without holding a press conference and – the Fox show aside – has only deigned to speak with pro-Harris outlets. Polling suggests this is not a winning strategy. So, what is she to do but copy Trump and walk toward the fire?
LNN’s Tim Donner recently noted:
“Her recent appearances on TV and social media had been in comfortable settings with questioners who were essentially fanboys: Howard Stern, Stephen Colbert, Charlemagne Tha God, and the left-wing ladies on The View, leading to criticism that she was speaking to the choir and failing to expand her reach.”
But did it work?
Internet Divided
If further proof were needed that America has a conceptual divide greater than the political one, reactions to Harris on Fox News would be exhibits A, B, and C. The Internet was swamped in the aftermath of the interview, with excerpts and boasts about how well the VP did in “enemy territory.” Bizarrely, many pro-Kamala accounts declared that Donald Trump would be too afraid to do the same. But Republicans and fans of Donald Trump were equally convinced that Harris was exposed as weak and unable to answer basic questions.
Who is right? That depends on what the meaning of “is” is.
It seems unlikely that she won over any traditional Fox News viewers and less likely that she won over voters who have fallen out of love with the network over its failure to – as they see it – fully support the GOP candidate. But she did get her base excited and perhaps put to rest fears that she can only do softball interviews. And that, politically, is worth its weight in gold to her campaign.
