Former Adviser Reveals Controversial Decision Behind Harris Campaign

Former Adviser Reveals Controversial Decision Behind Harris Campaign
High viewership numbers for Trump's Rogan interview indicate missed opportunity to reach key voter demographic
November 14, 2024, 8:03 pm

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A senior Harris campaign official revealed that concerns about progressive backlash derailed plans for her appearance on Joe Rogan's show, highlighting a decision that's drawn criticism from Democrats following Donald Trump's victory.

Harris's campaign discussed an interview with Rogan, whose audience surpasses many TV networks, as Democrats sought to reach young Trump-leaning voters. Jennifer Palmieri, chief adviser to Harris's husband Doug Emhoff, told the Financial Times negotiations ended due to party concerns.

Palmieri, with White House and Hillary Clinton 2016 campaign experience, said Wednesday: "Strong opposition emerged from our progressive staff who opposed her participation, fearing negative reactions."

Trump's Rogan episode garnered 50 million YouTube views, while VP-elect J.D. Vance's interview reached 16 million. Harris's Democratic National Convention speech drew 29 million viewers, with her Fox News interview drawing under 8 million.

Rogan, a UFC commentator, enjoys broad youth appeal through long-form conversations covering combat arts, paranormal phenomena, sports, and politics. He endorsed Trump before the election and has faced controversy, notably when musicians including Joni Mitchell removed their work from Spotify over his COVID-19 vaccine skepticism.

Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders urged party members to appear on podcasts like Rogan's, telling CNN: "We must reach these alternative media platforms attracting millions of viewers."

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