Thursday night, June 27, 2024, a heated exchange occurred between Vice President Kamala Harris and CNN’s Anderson Cooper following President Joe Biden’s debate performance that stirred unease within the Democratic Party.
The debate, which took place in Atlanta, Georgia, left many within the Democratic Party anxious about Biden’s ability to spearhead the party in the 2024 presidential race, due to his faltering and hoarse performance.
The interview began with Cooper highlighting the discontent among some Democrats about Biden’s debate performance, suggesting that there were suggestions within the party for Biden to potentially step down. Harris conceded Biden’s sluggish start but underscored his strong finish and the clear policy differences he drew 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,” stated Harris. Cooper, however, interrupted, underscoring the disappointment felt by many of Biden’s supporters and the wider Democratic base. He quoted the concern expressed by some Democratic lawmakers who labeled the debate as a “disaster” and a “trainwreck.”
Harris stood up for Biden by prioritizing 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 her attack on Trump, labeling him a liar and critiquing his positions on issues such as January 6, election results, and abortion.
Despite Harris’s defense, Cooper continued to question if the Biden he saw on stage was the same person Harris interacted with daily. An evidently irritated Harris, 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 underscored the tension and the significance of the forthcoming election.
The debate performance has led to significant concerns among leading Democrats about Biden’s ability to invigorate the party and effectively counter Trump. David Axelrod, a veteran Democratic strategist, noted, “Biden seemed a little disoriented at the start,” though he admitted that Biden improved as the debate progressed.
A CNN flash poll conducted after the debate showed that 67% of viewers thought Trump won, compared to 33% who believed Biden had the upper hand. This poll further fueled the growing unease within the Democratic Party about Biden’s viability as the nominee.
In the closing moments of the interview, Cooper asked Harris if she was worried about Biden’s performance, to which she confessed, “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.”
