WASHINGTON, D.C. – The presidential candidates are experimenting with some high-risk interviews, with potentially high rewards.
Political scientists said in recent days, both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have spoken with outlets that traditionally do not favor them. Political scientists said Harris recently did a one-on-one interview with Fox News, a more conservative leaning outlet and Trump spoke in a Fox News town hall All Women, with an all-female audience.
We’re told these interviews come with a lot of risk, but they also have the opportunity for each candidate to reach a different audience.
“For Kamala Harris walking into Fox News is kind of like walking into the lions den,” said Dr. Todd Belt, George Washington University Professor and Director of Political Management. “She had to know she was going to be attacked from minute one and she was. For Donald Trump he doesn’t seem to care too much because he is the master of pivoting or weaving from one topic to another.”
Both candidates have been characterized as extreme by each other and political scientists we spoke with believe these interviews try to take the edge off by talking to some of these groups.
“These are groups of course you wouldn’t expect them to speak to but one of the things we found out is back in 2020 is you don’t have to win these groups over but if you could cut into the margins the other candidate has, that could really help you with the state-wide totals and maybe even flip a state or two,” said Dr. Belt.
Political scientists said Harris’ interview could potentially reach some Nikki Haley voters, who some said are not inclined to vote for Trump. And trump’s interview could help reach more women voters because polls show consistently that Harris is strongly winning with female voters, especially on issues like abortion.
