Kamala Harris’ introduction because the Democratic Get together’s nominee for president has been something however typical. The rollout of her PR, messaging and media relations technique has been equally distinctive.
Within the roughly six weeks since changing President Joe Biden on the prime of the ticket, Harris has shied away from media interviews and as a substitute opted for scripted appearances and commercials.
Earlier than final week’s interview on CNN, Harris’ most notable public look as presidential candidate was on the Democratic Nationwide Conference – a four-day re-introduction of her to the citizens.
Nick Vehr, founder and CEO of Vehr Communications, described the method as “letting the American public get to know her as an individual” – a baby of immigrants, an completed legal professional, a former U.S. senator and the present vice chairman – versus only a “basket of insurance policies.”
By emphasizing her background, Harris is positioning herself as a “robust, skilled chief who can be relatable and approachable.”
“That is exactly the suitable strategic determination to make on this divided nation with a compressed decision-making interval,” Vehr mentioned, highlighting the truth that Election Day is about two months away.
An irregular method to an uncommon state of affairs
David Niven, a political science professor on the College of Cincinnati, known as Harris’ early messaging a “political Hippocratic Oath” to “not trigger hurt.”
“She’s taken a reasonably conservative technique when it comes to media presence, however she’s capitalized on the truth that merely by being a newly launched character, the extent of curiosity and enthusiasm… has been a message unto itself,” he mentioned.
Harris’ method to date isn’t one thing he’d usually suggest for a presidential nominee. Sometimes, a candidate desires consideration as quick as doable, in all methods doable, Niven mentioned. As a substitute, the Harris camp has opted to largely keep away from earned media alternatives.
Niven defended the technique as a calculated PR transfer brought on by the circumstances surrounding her candidacy. Tright here’s an excessive amount of curiosity and curiosity about her – and by which a number of the eye her Republican counterpart, Donald Trump, will get is unfavorable – so she doesn’t have the identical incentive candidates usually have, he mentioned.
However that method drew criticism from Republicans and a few members of the media who claimed she was dodging questions. Harris’ first main interview, a pre-recorded chat with CNN’s Dana Bash, aired on Aug. 28. It was over a month after she entered the presidential race.
Takeaways from the interview
The sit-down dialog with Bash, Harris and Tim Walz, Harris’ operating mate, represented a chance to silence lots of her critics by answering direct questions on insurance policies, her document and her candidacy.
Harris dedicated to stronger insurance policies on fracking and immigration insurance policies than throughout her VP run in 2019, as an illustration.
Typically, the CNN interview positioned Harris as a centrist candidate and as somebody who’s prepared to work throughout the political aisle. She even voiced her openness to naming a Republican to her cupboard.
“I believe it’s vital to have folks on the desk when among the most vital selections are being made which have totally different views, totally different experiences,” Harris informed Bash. “And I believe it might be to the advantage of the American public to have a member of my Cupboard who was a Republican.”
Harris delivered a “disciplined and measured” efficiency through the interview, Vehr mentioned. Poised and authoritative, she exuded confidence – a vital trait for an aspiring president nonetheless unfamiliar to many citizens.
The vice chairman didn’t appear rattled when Bash pushed her about obvious modifications to her positions on sure points. However a few of her responses drew criticism, particularly her flipping on the difficulty of fracking, a hot-button subject within the swing state of Pennsylvania.
On the marketing campaign path in 2019, Harris mentioned: “There’s no query I’m in favor of banning fracking,” in keeping with The Hill. However through the CNN interview Harris famous she didn’t work to ban fracking as vice chairman and “as president, I can’t ban fracking.”
After the interview, an account run by the Republican Nationwide Committee posted on X that it believes Harris nonetheless helps a fracking ban: “Democrats are having a extremely robust time spinning Kamala’s place on fracking — which is that she desires to BAN it.”
Harris informed Bash “we will improve a clear vitality financial system with out banning fracking” however she didn’t present a lot perception into her decision-making.
Like several government, a politician can change their place on a subject or their method to a state of affairs, however they want sturdy causes to again up the explanation to point out.
Messaging displays candidate kinds approaches
“In the end, folks vote their emotions, not info,” Niven mentioned.
Niven described the Harris method because the “marketing campaign of fine emotions.” That was on full show through the latest Democratic Nationwide Conference, which leaned closely into themes corresponding to “pleasure,” “unity” and “hope,” the slogan for President Barack Obama’s 2008 run.
That messaging goals to encourage Democrats and undecideds who’re nonetheless attending to know Harris, Niven mentioned.
In contrast, the Trump marketing campaign is working to spotlight all that’s improper with the nation – whereas emphasizing what the nation can be like if he have been in workplace once more.
The most important problem Harris faces is the method to her time as vice chairman. Trump and his crew will attempt to burden her with each determination the Biden administration made that may not have gone as deliberate.
Trump is aware of his viewers, Vehr mentioned, and is aware of what he does nicely. The previous president continues to be aggressive and direct; he stays extraordinarily targeted on small bits of element that allow folks to grasp the broader level that he’s making, Vehr mentioned.
Trump’s method is criticized by many, however “he’s obtained such sturdy core help of (his base) that it doesn’t actually matter,” Vehr mentioned.
What voters will resolve on the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5 is what model of America they consider their candidate can create for them.
“On the finish of the day, it’s probably not concerning the insurance policies, it’s concerning the individual,” Vehr mentioned.
Casey Weldon is a reporter for PR Day by day. Observe him on LinkedIn.