A Republican strategist proved unable to defend former President Donald Trump's most consistent attack line on Vice President Kamala Harris to a baffled CNN anchor Tuesday.
Lance Trover, former spokesperson to Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), found his argument — that the Harris campaign had blundered in failing to immediately set up a sit-down press interview — brushed off by Jim Acosta.
"She's been vice president, I mean, she's done interviews, she's taken questions," Acosta said. "I don't understand. What is this whole thing?"
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The topic arose Tuesday out of a conversation between Acosta, Trover and Harris campaign adviser Keisha Lance Bottoms about the upcoming presidential debate on Sept. 10 and the surrounding discussion about the rules to be applied.
Harris' campaign has demanded unmuted mics, Trump's campaign wants muted mics and Trump himself has said he doesn't care — but also suggested over the weekend that he might not appear, a point upon which Lance Bottoms jumped.
"Donald Trump is afraid of Kamala Harris and Kamala Harris is used to dealing with bullies, whether it be defendants in a courtroom as a prosecutor, or whether it be as a senator," Lance Bottoms said. "Donald Trump should be very afraid to debate her."
Acosta then suggested Trump's hesitancy to commit to the ABC News debate undercut the power of his demands that Harris submit herself to a press interview.
"That's all well and good, but I mean, shouldn't Donald Trump do a debate?" Acosta asked. "You're going to be President of the United States — who cares what the mic is doing — just debate."
Trover cast blame on Harris for instigating a debate rule debate then argued the actual debate was made necessary by what he characterized as a nefarious campaign tactic.
"There needs to be a debate because this will be one of the few times, Jim, only people in the media and others are going to hear from Kamala Harris," Trover said. "There's a real strategy that they are employing here, on the Harris side...to not do unscripted events."
Acosta brushed this complaint aside as he threw Trover's criticism back at the Republican nominee and former president.
"I think some of this is [Harris] trying to stay on message," Acosta replied, "Something Trump has had some trouble with."
Lance Bottoms was quick to double down on Acosta's critique of Trover's line of attack, which she argued did not reflect demands coming from American voters.
"I can tell you in the hundreds of people that I've talked to about this campaign, not one person has mentioned having a care about whether or not she sits down to do an interview," Lance Bottoms said.
"What we have seen from Kamala Harris, what we saw during the convention last week, was someone who's very much in command, someone who is ready to lead, someone who's been leading."
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