Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris will sit down for her first major interview since being chosen for the ticket alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The joint appearance on CNN's prime-time slot at 21:00 EDT (02:00 BST) tonight marks an important moment for Harris as she faces growing criticism over her limited engagement with the press and her decision to share the spotlight with her running mate.

While Harris had promised to schedule an interview before the end of the month, the inclusion of Walz in the interview has raised eyebrows and led to accusations that she is avoiding the scrutiny that comes with a solo interview. Critics argue that the decision reflects a lack of confidence in her own political ability.

Supporters of Harris, however, believe that her approach is strategic, considering the unprecedented nature of her candidacy following President Joe Biden's sudden departure from the race. They argue that she is taking the right pace in navigating the campaign trail.

Joint interviews featuring presidential ticket members are not uncommon. Examples include Barack Obama and Joe Biden in 2008, Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine in 2016, Ms Harris and Biden earlier this year, and even President Trump and JD Vance after Vance was announced as his running mate.

Harris's recent engagements with the press have mostly been in scripted and controlled environments. Her last formal sit-down interview took place on June 24, leaving Republicans to claim that she is shirking the opportunity to have her record and agenda scrutinized.

President Trump, one of her Republican opponents, has been particularly vocal in his criticism, suggesting that Harris is not smart enough to hold news conferences and questioning her ability to do better than Biden. As her momentum in the race continues to grow, Harris must now "reinforce" the energy surrounding her candidacy, according to strategist Chip Felkel.

The decision to do a joint interview with Walz may indicate that Harris wants to share the pressure and potential difficult questions, as well as ensuring both candidates are in sync regarding policy explanations. It might also allow a contrast to be drawn between Walz and Republican candidate JD Vance, whom Harris has labeled as "weird."

The impact of this joint interview will only be known once it is complete. Harris has had mixed results with high-pressure interviews in the past, with her 2021 conversation with Lester Holt receiving criticism while her more recent one-on-one with Anderson Cooper showcased her calm and confident demeanor.

If the CNN joint interview proves successful and addresses the criticism, it may give the Harris campaign the opportunity to move forward confidently. As the campaign disputes reports of an incident related to filming military burial sites, tonight's interview holds the potential to shape public perception of Harris's ability to handle tough questions and solidify her standing in the race.