A previous senior advisor to Kamala Harris believes that it should be Joe Rogan making all the effort to secure an interview with the vice president, rather than the reverse.
Mike Nellis, who served as a campaign advisor to Harris, stated that Rogan is missing a major chance to embrace mainstream appeal by engaging in a conversation with Harris.
“The opportunity to reach a new audience that remains largely skeptical of him after years of distorted clips would be monumental,” Nellis remarked. “He could attract numerous listeners who have never tuned in for a complete episode, and even maintaining a small portion of that audience could pivot him further into the mainstream.”
Rogan, 57, disclosed on Monday night that Harris, 60, had agreed to participate in an hour-long interview with him. However, he stated he declined to travel to her as her campaign proposed and instead preferred to host the discussion in his studio located in Texas for up to three hours.
While it may seem like a considerable request for a presidential candidate to visit you just a week before Election Day, the 78-year-old Donald Trump did make the trip to Texas for a comprehensive interview with Rogan on Friday.
In contrast to the numerous media figures who would have eagerly seized the chance to converse with Harris during this stage of her campaign, Rogan, arguably the most prominent podcaster globally, chose not to yield.
“They proposed a date for Tuesday, but I would have had to go to her, and they only wanted to allocate an hour,” Rogan expressed frustration in a post on Monday. “I truly believe the optimal way to conduct this is in the Austin studio. My genuine desire is to simply have an engaging conversation and connect with her as an individual.”
Nellis perceives Rogan’s choice as a misstep—not because it would negatively affect his predominantly male, conservative-leaning audience, but because he missed the opportunity to attract new listeners who might not otherwise give him a chance. He suggested that Rogan could have thought outside the box with a unique location, such as renting a UFC gym.
“He would garner incredible views from his current audience tuning in to watch with contempt and an entirely new audience comprised of (a) die-hard Harris supporters and (b) spectators drawn in by the event itself,” Nellis stated. “It would enhance his cultural relevance even further.”
An interview with Harris would not only serve the podcaster’s interests, however, Nellis underscored in a prior email to the Daily Beast. He pointed out that the demographics of Rogan’s listeners represent an area where Harris faces challenges.
“Rogan engages a significant demographic of younger males, which encompasses a crucial segment of persuadable voters,” Nellis noted on October 15. “While Harris may not attract a mass of white male voters, even minor shifts within that demographic could greatly facilitate her path to victory.”
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