David Axelrod urges Kamala Harris to increase media presence ahead of election

David Axelrod, a former senior adviser to President Obama, emphasized the need for Vice President Kamala Harris to increase her media presence as the election approaches. During a CNN appearance, he supported the Harris campaign's view that she should engage in as many interviews as possible before November 5. Axelrod suggested that Harris should particularly focus on local TV and radio stations in battleground states to enhance her visibility. Criticism has been directed at Harris for her limited unscripted media interactions since joining the presidential ticket. As of Thursday, she and her running mate, Tim Walz, had conducted only 15 interviews, compared to 55 by their opponents, Donald Trump and JD Vance. In response to this criticism, Brian Fallon, a senior communications adviser for Harris, urged the public not to overreact to the perceived lack of interviews, asserting that the campaign is now prioritizing media appearances. Fallon indicated that the initial weeks of the campaign were focused on other strategic tasks, but the remaining weeks would see a shift towards increased media engagement. Axelrod echoed this sentiment, stating that unscripted interactions are crucial for candidates to demonstrate their capabilities and connect with voters. He rated Harris's performance in interviews positively but stressed that more exposure is essential. Ultimately, Axelrod believes that increasing her media presence will benefit Harris's campaign, allowing her to better connect with the electorate and showcase her qualifications for the presidency.