Time Magazine's Owner Criticizes Vice President Harris for Declining Interview Invitations
Marc Benioff, the owner of Time magazine, has criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for refusing multiple interview requests from the well-known left-leaning publication in the lead-up to the November election.
Benioff, who is also the billionaire co-founder of Salesforce, purchased Time magazine in 2018. He pointed out that since he took over the publication, all presidential candidates have accepted the magazine's interview invitations during their campaigns. This includes former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden. However, Vice President Harris has consistently declined all of Time's interview requests.
Benioff expressed his disappointment on social media, stating, "Despite multiple requests, TIME has not been granted an interview with Kamala Harris — unlike every other Presidential candidate." He continued, "We believe in transparency and publish each interview in full. Why isn’t the Vice President engaging with the public on the same level?"
Harris Continues to Decline Interview Requests
Despite Vice President Harris's consistent refusal to grant interviews, Time magazine published another favorable profile of her. The magazine had previously published a similar piece about Harris in August, after she became the Democratic party's presidential nominee. At that time as well, Harris declined to participate in an interview with Time.
For the majority of her campaign, Harris has largely avoided the media. However, in recent weeks, she has chosen to appear on more friendly platforms, including The View, The Howard Stern Show, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Impact on Harris's Poll Numbers
This strategy appears to have resulted in a significant drop in Harris's poll numbers. According to the latest NBC polls, she is now neck-and-neck with Trump. This represents a five-point drop from NBC's previous poll in September, where she was leading Trump 49% to 44%.
Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt, who conducted the survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff, commented on Harris's declining momentum. He suggested that Harris's initial refusal to participate in interviews likely harmed her, as voters still have significant questions about her campaign and its proposals.
Harris is scheduled to be interviewed by Fox News host Bret Baier later this week, which could be her biggest challenge yet.
Could Harris's Declining Momentum Drive Democrats to the Polls?
While the perception that Harris is losing momentum may seem negative, it could also be part of her three-month-old campaign strategy with early voting now open in many swing states. The idea that she is tied or trailing might motivate more Democrats to vote ahead of Election Day.
Bottom Line
The refusal of Vice President Kamala Harris to grant interviews to Time magazine has sparked criticism and raised questions about transparency and engagement with the public. As her poll numbers decline, it remains to be seen how this strategy will impact her campaign and voter turnout. What are your thoughts on this matter? Share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
