Harris Reflects on Debate and Biden’s Performance

In a recent conversation, former Vice President Kamala Harris disclosed that she felt “a little out of sorts” before what turned into a pivotal debate performance in her political career. This was noted even as President Joe Biden maintained that she was not eager to debate Donald Trump, while he defended the former president post-debate.

Harris discussed her thoughts on the historical debate happening on June 27, 2024, during an appearance on Stephen Bartlett’s “Diary of a CEO.” She mentioned a call with Biden that had a different tone, hinting at his hesitance about engaging in the debate.

“He didn’t want that debate,” Harris asserted, despite Biden’s earlier public push for a head-to-head showdown on social media.

“Competing, whether in sports or politics, affects how you perform. If you don’t want to compete, it can impact your game,” she added, reflecting on their conversations leading up to the event.

Despite feeling uneasy, Harris staunchly supported Biden in a subsequent CNN interview after his difficult debate performance, where he stumbled over his words and even made confusing statements like, “We finally won Medicare.”

“I was observing very closely,” she recalled, sharing that she was taking notes during the debate from a hotel in Los Angeles.

The discussion with Bartlett came in the context of earlier Congressional inquiries regarding concerns about Biden’s age-related capabilities, revealing doubts surrounding his mental sharpness and physical health.

Former White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients shared that internal discussions included whether cognitive testing should be part of Biden’s medical check-ups, noting the mixed opinions about its potential harm or benefit.

Interestingly, while there were discussions of Biden’s testing, no one confirmed he was unfit for the presidency. Harris also expressed frustrations regarding her treatment within Biden’s circle, suggesting that some staff members seemed to undermine her by allowing negative narratives to surface about her.

“I didn’t expect it, but I recognized it was human nature,” Harris noted, expressing disappointment that this behavior could be counterproductive.

“Did Biden know this was going on?” asked Bartlett, to which she replied that she was uncertain about his awareness but held his staff accountable.

As they explored her ongoing relationship with Biden, Harris described it as “very complicated.” She conveyed a mix of admiration and frustration, noting her strong feelings for him but acknowledging instances of disappointment.

When pressed about whether Biden genuinely wished for her to win the election, Harris suggested that protecting his legacy was a priority for her, though this focus was also centered on him, reflecting the intricacies of their relationship.