Kamala Harris admits Joe Biden had a 'slow start' in disaster debate

By Charlie Spiering, Senior Political Reporter, Washington, Dc

Published: | Updated:

Advertisement

Vice President Kamala Harris desperately tried to reassure Democrats on Thursday that President Joe Biden was still the right candidate to lead them into the 2024 election after his dismal debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Harris began an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper by highlighting the contrast between Biden and Trump, calling the president's performance 'extraordinarily strong.'

Vice President Kamala Harris desperately tried to reassure Democrats on Thursday that President Joe Biden was still the right candidate to lead them into the 2024 election after his dismal debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Harris began an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper by highlighting the contrast between Biden and Trump, calling the president's performance 'extraordinarily strong.'

When CNN's Anderson Cooper noted that Biden's performance was disappointing for many Democrats, Harris conceded that Biden had a 'slow start.' 'Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish,' she said. 'And what became very clear through the course of the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people.'

When CNN's Anderson Cooper noted that Biden's performance was disappointing for many Democrats, Harris conceded that Biden had a 'slow start.' 'Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish,' she said. 'And what became very clear through the course of the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people.' 

'The president's performance tonight was clearly disappointing to his supporters,' Cooper said interrupting Harris, pointing to CNN reports of panicking Democrats. 'Listen people can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance,' Harris said.

'The president's performance tonight was clearly disappointing to his supporters,' Cooper said interrupting Harris, pointing to CNN reports of panicking Democrats. 'Listen people can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance,' Harris said.

Cooper noted that Biden's debate performance was starkly different than when Harris debated him in the 2020 presidential primary. 'He was a very different person on the stage four years ago when you debated him, that's certainly true is it not?' Cooper asked, noting it was 'scary' for Democrats who were watching. 'I got the point that you're making about a one and a half hour debate tonight,' she said. 'I'm talking about three and a half years of performance and work that has been historic.'

Cooper noted that Biden's debate performance was starkly different than when Harris debated him in the 2020 presidential primary. 'He was a very different person on the stage four years ago when you debated him, that's certainly true is it not?' Cooper asked, noting it was 'scary' for Democrats who were watching. 'I got the point that you're making about a one and a half hour debate tonight,' she said. 'I'm talking about three and a half years of performance and work that has been historic.'

Harris repeatedly ignored questions from Cooper about Biden's physical and mental fitness and instead focused on the administrations record. 'I'm not going to spend all night with you talking about the last 90 minutes, when I've been watching the last three and a half years of performance,' she said.

Harris repeatedly ignored questions from Cooper about Biden's physical and mental fitness and instead focused on the administrations record. 'I'm not going to spend all night with you talking about the last 90 minutes, when I've been watching the last three and a half years of performance,' she said.

Cooper again challenged Harris' assessment of Biden's performance during the debate, pointing out that their campaign wanted him to debate. 'You can't honestly say... can you say that you are not concerned at all having watched the president's performance tonight?' he asked. It was a slow start, that's obvious to everyone,' Harris repeated. 'I'm not going to debate that point. I'm talking about the choice in November.'

Cooper again challenged Harris' assessment of Biden's performance during the debate, pointing out that their campaign wanted him to debate. 'You can't honestly say... can you say that you are not concerned at all having watched the president's performance tonight?' he asked. It was a slow start, that's obvious to everyone,' Harris repeated. 'I'm not going to debate that point. I'm talking about the choice in November.'

Harris also appeared on MSNBC to beat back the idea that Biden performed badly during the debate. 'Well it was a slow start, there's no question about that, but I felt it was a strong finish,' she said during an interview with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.

Harris also appeared on MSNBC to beat back the idea that Biden performed badly during the debate. 'Well it was a slow start, there's no question about that, but I felt it was a strong finish,' she said during an interview with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.

Harris also appeared on ABC News to talk about Biden's performance, emphasizing that Biden focused on 'facts' and his record of achievement. 'Listen, he did not get off to a strong start in that debate but he had a strong finish, and you know it was a slow start and a strong finish and the bottom line is this: Let us not decide the outcome of whose going to be president of the United States based on a ninety minute debate, lets measure that decision against the last three and a half years,' she said.

Harris also appeared on ABC News to talk about Biden's performance, emphasizing that Biden focused on 'facts' and his record of achievement. 'Listen, he did not get off to a strong start in that debate but he had a strong finish, and you know it was a slow start and a strong finish and the bottom line is this: Let us not decide the outcome of whose going to be president of the United States based on a ninety minute debate, lets measure that decision against the last three and a half years,' she said.

Harris said she spent a lot of time with Joe Biden behind the scenes, personally witnessing his success on the national and global stage. 'That's the Joe Biden I see every day. And I would urge folks to look at the record and look at the record of accomplishment,' she said.

Harris said she spent a lot of time with Joe Biden behind the scenes, personally witnessing his success on the national and global stage. 'That's the Joe Biden I see every day. And I would urge folks to look at the record and look at the record of accomplishment,' she said.

Harris' seemingly impromptu media tour after the debate sparked speculation that the Biden campaign was deeply concerned about the results of the debate. 'You don't send the Vice President of the United States out if you won the debate, typically,' former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on MSNBC as the political panel laughed.

Harris' seemingly impromptu media tour after the debate sparked speculation that the Biden campaign was deeply concerned about the results of the debate. 'You don't send the Vice President of the United States out if you won the debate, typically,' former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on MSNBC as the political panel laughed.

Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.

Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.

CNNKamala HarrisJoe BidenDemocrats