After dodging and weaving for 39 days as a presidential candidate, Kamala Harris finally submitted to an interview. It was a tactical error to have waited so long. 

The pressure on the Democrat had only increased with each passing day. The stakes were high. In the end, Ms Harris, who likes to paint herself as a tough prosecutor, appeared unable to handle the scrutiny alone. 

She tackled the interview the same way she has approached her entire campaign: a cautious, do-no-harm attitude. Sat next to her was her running mate Tim Walz – a visual crutch she could have done without. 

It laid the ground for accusations that the televised interview on Left-leaning CNN was less of a grilling and more of a cosy chat. 

Yet even questions that could easily have been anticipated were fumbled, including the opening: what would you do on day one in the White House? 

Ms Harris still struggles to appear charismatic and communicate in concise soundbites that lend themselves to primetime TV - and viral online clips. 

With that said, she was able to achieve some strategic goals. Her claim that her “values have not changed” was a smart play to progressives even as she runs from her one-time embrace of liberal policies. 

At the same time, she signalled a willingness to appoint a Republican to her Cabinet. That outreach will appeal to conservatives disillusioned with Donald Trump at a time when the ex-president has made clear dissenters are persona non grata in the Republican Party. 

“I have spent my career inviting diversity of opinion,” she said, a calculated strike against Trump’s claim that she is a “radical Marxist”. 

Her responses to questions on the economy and Joe Biden’s record tread a delicate balance. 

She demonstrated respect and loyalty to the outgoing president, while pivoting to the future with a promise to “turn the page”. 

Ms Harris also deftly avoided being dragged onto the often ugly battlefield of identity politics when asked about Trump’s comments on her dual heritage. 

It is a “tired playbook”, she said, “next question, please”. 

The Vice President was recording the interview from Georgia, a battleground where she hopes to consolidate support among black voters, who comprise around a third of the state’s electorate. 

Yet she resisted the opportunity to dwell on the historical nature of her candidacy, instead offering a disciplined response that would have appealed to many Americans watching at home. 

“I believe that I am the best person to do this job at this moment for all Americans, regardless of race and gender,” she said. 

Over 28 minutes, Ms Harris avoided any major mis-steps. But she also missed a golden opportunity to burnish her credentials as an experienced leader able to handle rigorous questioning. 

Nor did she seize a chance to generate enthusiasm by offering any substantive policies. 

Viewers were left none the wiser about what sort of president she would be. 

Trump offered a one-word verdict on the interview shortly after it aired: “Boring!!!” 

Ms Harris would probably agree. Her cautious approach suggests that was precisely the aim.