Less than 24 hours after President Biden’s lackluster performance at a debate in Atlanta, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed a crowd of supporters in a crucial battleground state on Friday. She defended his record and his ability to hold office.
While Democrats are openly discussing the possibility of replacing Mr. Biden on the ticket, Ms. Harris also subtly made a case for herself during her speech.
She spoke articulately about Mr. Biden’s accomplishments, contrasting him with his opponent, former President Donald J. Trump, who was known for his dishonesty and false statements during the debate.
The contrast between Ms. Harris and Mr. Biden was also on the minds of Democrats. Even though the idea of removing Mr. Biden from the ticket is considered unlikely, Ms. Harris would likely be among the candidates vying for the presidential nomination if he were to withdraw.
Former Senator Claire McCaskill, a Democrat from Missouri, questioned the focus on the vice president instead of the president following Ms. Harris’s strong post-debate interview on CNN.
Ms. Harris, 59, has faced challenges in defining her role as vice president, with her approval ratings closely mirroring Mr. Biden’s. Some Democrats had concerns about her effectiveness for the campaign in the past.
With the Biden campaign facing difficulties, there is now increased attention on Ms. Harris as she works to reassure a worried Democratic Party. During her appearance in Nevada, she reaffirmed her loyalty to Mr. Biden.
“In a true leader, character is more important than style,” Ms. Harris emphasized. “Donald Trump lacks the character to be president of the United States.”
Ms. Harris has been actively campaigning, earning praise for her work on various issues such as abortion rights, Gaza, and Black maternal health.
Her team believes she connects with voters who may not naturally gravitate towards Mr. Biden, including minorities and younger voters. In a short span of time, she addressed economic opportunities for Black men in Atlanta before attending a summit in Switzerland to advocate for Ukraine.
Ms. Harris has emerged as one of Mr. Biden’s strongest advocates, defending him fiercely against critics. She notably rebutted a report questioning Mr. Biden’s mental acuity earlier this year.
Following the debate, some Democrats expressed satisfaction with Ms. Harris’s performance, wishing to see more of her passion and defense of Mr. Biden on the debate stage.
Quentin James, co-founder of the Collective PAC, praised Vice President Harris for her defense of President Biden and criticism of Donald Trump, calling her the best spokesperson for the administration.
In her interview with CNN, Ms. Harris acknowledged Mr. Biden’s slow start in the debate but emphasized the importance of his years of governance over a single debate performance.
She reiterated this message on Friday, highlighting Mr. Biden’s leadership qualities and dismissing the notion that the race would be decided by one debate.
Fletcher N. Smith Jr., a former state representative from South Carolina and a Biden campaign surrogate, emphasized the need for a serious discussion within the Democratic Party about its leadership direction.
However, Mr. Smith expressed concerns about Ms. Harris potentially leading the ticket due to her handling of migration issues, which are significant to voters. Ms. Harris has faced criticism over the surge in border crossings.
At Ms. Harris’s campaign event, there was palpable anxiety among attendees, with some questioning Mr. Biden’s mental sharpness and expressing support for Ms. Harris to take the lead.
Camille Kauer, a Black woman from North Carolina, praised the partnership between Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris, referring to them as a “dynamic duo.” She expressed excitement about the possibility of Ms. Harris becoming president in the future.
Despite this optimism, Ms. Kauer voiced concerns about the Democratic Party’s support for Black women in leadership roles.
Simon J. Levien contributed reporting from Las Vegas.
