Kamala Harris's decision to avoid interviews like this up until now meant there was plenty of anticipation - and pressure - on the vice-president in the lead up.
Republicans have seized on some of the clunkier language that she has become known for, often referred to as "word salads".
And they're keen to highlight what Donald Trump has labelled her "flip-flops" on policy areas like fracking and immigration.
Harris was on the defensive for quite a bit of the interview, trying to argue that while her positions had shifted, her values had not.
She didn't seem totally at ease with the format, and interviewer Dana Bash had to follow up on what should have been an easy question about what she'd do on her first day in the White House.
But there didn't appear to be any catastrophic stumbles, and Trump responded on social media with the message: "BORING!!!"
Harris's campaign will be hoping this hasn't done anything to halt her early momentum.
But will it be enough to change the mind of anyone who's currently unsure about whether she should be elected to the top job?
Either way, the pressure won't relent any time soon. The next big test could come when she faces off against Trump in their first debate next month.