In a sometimes tense CNN interview on Thursday, Vice President Harris came to President Biden’s defense regarding his debate performance, admitting he had a “slow start” against former President Trump.
“What we saw tonight is the president making a very clear contrast with Donald Trump on all the issues that matter to the American people,” Harris stated during her conversation with CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
She acknowledged the slow beginning but emphasized, “It was a strong finish. And what became very clear through the course of the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people. On substance, on policy, and on performance, Joe Biden is extraordinarily strong.”
Cooper expressed skepticism about Harris’s praise in light of Biden’s debate performance, noting that the president’s voice was often raspy—a condition the White House later attributed to a cold.
He also pointed out that Biden occasionally lost his train of thought and struggled to articulate his points clearly. Following the debate, some congressional members expressed concern over Biden’s performance.
“People can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance. And the contrast is clear,” Harris asserted, citing Trump’s hesitance to commit to accepting the 2024 election results and his inconsistent stance on abortion following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
However, Cooper pressed further, asking Harris if Biden seemed like the same candidate on Thursday’s stage as he had during the 2020 Democratic primary debates or if he resembled the leader she meets with daily. “Can you say that you are not concerned at all having watched the president’s performance tonight?” he queried.
“It was a slow start; that’s obvious to everyone. I’m not going to debate that point,” Harris acknowledged. “I’m talking about the choice in November. I’m talking about one of the most important elections in our collective lifetime.”
She argued that Biden has successfully navigated his presidency, pointing to his ability to broker bipartisan deals on infrastructure and other issues, and emphasized his three-plus years of accomplishments compared to a 90-minute debate.
Biden’s performance has drawn criticism from many Democrats, some of whom are contemplating whether he should be replaced at the top of the Democratic ticket before the convention in August.
“The chatter is very distracting, and it’s going to be very consuming for the campaign,” remarked former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki on MSNBC. “Should he be replaced? They’re going to be answering that question instead of breaking through on attacking Trump.”
