Former co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show, Katie Couric, has publicly criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her communication style during campaign interviews. Couric expressed concern over Harris’ frequent inability to provide concise, direct answers, a trait that has left many voters and media observers feeling frustrated.
Couric described this inability to provide clear answers as a major flaw. She recounted that many viewers were probably hoping for Harris to simply answer the question. She argued that Harris’ tendency to give vague or evasive answers was particularly problematic in high-stakes campaign settings, where clarity is paramount.
In a November 14, 2024 episode of her podcast “Next Question with Katie Couric”, Couric compared Harris’ performance to that of Hillary Clinton, who she said was better equipped to handle challenging questions effectively.
According to Couric, tough questions usually compel politicians to refine their message and convey clear, resonating statements. However, she noted that Harris often struggled even with what she termed as “weird, like, amorphous softballs,” questions that should have been easier to handle but seemed to impair Harris’ ability to deliver a focused message.
Couric expressed particular disquiet over Harris’ performance on ABC’s “The View”, where the Vice President notably said “Nothing comes to mind” when asked what she would do differently than President Biden. This incident was labeled by Couric as “one of the most damaging things” from the campaign period.
Jen Psaki, former White House Press Secretary, provided some context to Harris’ communication issues, describing it as a “unique and painful summer” for the Biden administration. She noted that Harris had to delicately navigate the politics of that period.
Couric also critiqued broader aspects of Harris’ campaign strategy. She suggested that Harris’ team seemed underprepared for standard interview questions, arguing that any presidential campaign should have a prepared “template” for handling common inquiries.
The critique also touched on Harris’ temporary retreat from media appearances. Harris reportedly avoided interviews for several weeks after being selected as the Democratic nominee, a move that attracted further scrutiny from media observers.
