In a tense exchange on Thursday night, June 27, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris clashed with CNN’s Anderson Cooper following President Joe Biden’s debate performance, which has sparked concerns within the Democratic Party.
The debate in Atlanta, Georgia left many Democrats worried about Biden’s capability to lead the party into the 2024 presidential election, given his halting and raspy performance.
Anderson Cooper opened the interview by pointing out the dissatisfaction among some Democrats regarding Biden’s debate, suggesting that there were calls within the party for Biden to potentially step aside. Harris acknowledged Biden’s slow start but emphasized his strong finish and the substantive policy contrasts he made with former President Donald Trump.
“What we saw tonight is the president making a very clear contrast with Donald Trump on all of the issues that matter to the American people,” Harris asserted. However, Cooper interjected, highlighting the disappointment felt by many Biden supporters and the broader Democratic base. He referenced the alarm expressed by some Democratic lawmakers who described the debate as a “disaster” and a “trainwreck.”
Harris defended Biden by focusing on the substance over the style of the debate, saying, “People can debate on style points, but ultimately, this election and who the president of the United States is has to be about substance.” She continued to criticize Trump, calling him a liar and condemning his positions on issues such as January 6, election results, and abortion.
Despite Harris’s defense, Cooper pressed on, questioning if the Biden on stage was the same man she saw daily. Harris, visibly frustrated, responded, “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.” This exchange highlighted the tension and the high stakes of the upcoming election.
The debate performance has led to serious concerns among top Democrats about Biden’s ability to energize the party and effectively counter Trump. David Axelrod, a seasoned Democratic strategist, noted, “Biden seemed a little disoriented at the start,” though he acknowledged that Biden improved as the debate continued.
A CNN flash poll conducted after the debate revealed that 67% of viewers believed Trump won, compared to 33% who thought Biden came out on top. This poll added to the growing anxiety within the Democratic Party regarding Biden’s viability as the nominee.
In the final moments of the interview, Cooper asked Harris if she was concerned about Biden’s performance, to which she admitted, “It was a slow start; I’m not going to debate that. I’m talking about the choice in November. I’m talking about one of the most important elections in our collective lifetime.”