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Talk about a lot of build-up for almost no reason whatsoever! But that doesn’t mean that last night’s CNN fluffery didn’t reveal something key to this election.
Beege and I dutifully live-blogged our analysis of the first Kamala Harris media interview of the election (and maybe the first in three years on a major national platform) as it unfolded on CNN. Between that instant commentary and Duane’s extensive analysis of The Interview this morning, we have perhaps dissected 18 minutes of content as thoroughly as has ever been done before.
Later, though, an exchange that stunned me in real time grew into perhaps the most revealing moment of an almost entirely substance-free infomercial. Harris kept dodging Dana Bash’s questions about her flip-flops and previous policies, and even evaded any specifics about her Day One plans if elected. But Harris flat-out refused to engage on perhaps her clearest and firmest ground, not even to take a potshot at Donald Trump — who probably deserved it in this case, at least more so than other areas:
Kamala Harris pretty much sidesteps awkward question from CNN over race
Dana Bash: ‘Trump suggested you happened to turn black for political purposes’
VP Harris: ‘Next question please’#CNN pic.twitter.com/60wWD5AW6O— Avinash K S???????? (@AvinashKS14) August 30, 2024
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I want to ask you about your opponent, Donald Trump. I was a little bit surprised, people might be surprised to hear that you have never interacted with him, met him face-to-face? That’s going to change soon.
But what I want to ask you about is what he said last month, he suggested that you happened to turn Black recently for political purposes, questioning a core part of your identity.
KAMALA HARRIS (D) VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Same old tired playbook, next question, please.
