Vice President Kamala Harris declared at a rally in Las Vegas on Friday that “This election won’t be decided in a single June evening,” dismissing the “punditry” that had been critical of President Joe Biden‘s sluggish and uneven debate performance.
Speaking to a fervent audience, Harris sided with Biden in his effort to allay Democratic fears by attacking the presumed Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump. “Between a dishonest person and a leader,” was how she presented the election.
Harris stated, “A true leader is one whose character matters more than style.” “And Donald Trump just lacks the moral fiber to lead the country as president.”
While acknowledging Biden’s inconsistent performance, Harris focused on the points raised by Trump during the 90-minute debate, such as his failure to denounce the rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and his inability to firmly commit to accepting the outcome of this November’s election.
“The stakes of this election were made clear last night,” Harris added.
Her Las Vegas event and her TV appearances following Biden’s debate seemed to be attempts to defuse Democratic nerves. Biden said, “I don’t debate as well as I used to,” in Raleigh, North Carolina, hours before, seemingly acknowledging the criticism of his performance.
Speaking for eleven minutes, Harris addressed a gathering of Latino voters, a significant voting demographic in Nevada, a battleground state, at a community center in Las Vegas.
According to the newspaper, a Biden campaign official shadowed a New York Times reporter while he conducted interviews with people, cutting them short when the conversation veered off topic. No one from the campaign trailed or obstructed an Associated Press reporter who was interviewing voters.
According to Harris, rather than just one debate, the real difference between Biden and Trump must be in how well he performs as president.
Harris remarked, “I see Joe Biden both when the cameras are on and off.” “I am discussing bipartisan agreements in the Oval Office. I envision him safeguarding our nation in the Situation Room. Meeting with world leaders, who frequently seek his counsel, on the international scene.
Soon after the debate, surveys from CNN and 538/Ipsos revealed that the majority of viewers believed Trump had performed better than Biden. However, favorability ratings for both men stayed essentially the same, as they did following Trump’s conviction.
In the midst of the Democratic panic that followed Biden’s performance, Harris conducted interviews on CNN and MSNBC on Thursday night. This sparked ongoing debate about whether the 81-year-old president ought to resign.
“It started off slowly. That much is clear to all. After the discussion, Harris stated in a CNN interview, “I will not argue with that point.” “I’m referring to the selection for November. One of the most significant elections in our lifetimes is what I’m referring to.
A group of women waiting to enter the casino in Las Vegas before Harris arrived felt that Biden’s debate performance was weak but thought he could improve.
A Mariachi band was playing nearby when 50-year-old Tina Allen-Major, a Las Vegas electrician, stated, “Though there were gaffes on both sides, Biden-Harris is unquestionably the best option.” “We must keep up the defense of our democracy and strive for the best interests of our future.”
It’s not unprecedented for an incumbent president to falter in their first debate; therefore, Biden’s “slow start” should not disqualify him, according to Henderson, Nevada, data collector Sharon Tillis, 71, who works for government policymakers.
Tillis remarked, “You stand with someone solidly when you’re with them.”
Both Trump and former President Barack Obama, who were running as incumbents in 2012 and 2020, earned dismal evaluations for their first debates. Neither candidate’s speech caused the same level of anxiety in some Democrats as did Joe Biden’s.
42-year-old Teamsters convention worker Brandon Colbert called Joe Biden’s performance “concerning,” but he thinks the candidate can succeed and that it’s unrealistic to discuss Biden’s replacement as the Democratic nominee.
“At this point, who will step in?” stated Colbert. “After all, the train is moving. Who we got is who we got. This is our plan of action. He’s still my choice over Trump.