If you read some of our stories about the reactions of the focus groups and independent voters after Tuesday's presidential debate, you know some people were dissatisfied with Kamala Harris' answers. They didn't feel that she explained what her plans for the future would be, and they didn't feel like she distinguished herself from Joe Biden — she didn't say how she would be different. That's a problem when so many Americans feel that what the Biden-Harris team has brought is a mess on so many levels, particularly on the border and the economy.
I think the "new way forward" would be even more left, when it was already bad enough under the "moderate" Biden. People got sold a bill of goods with Biden, and they're trying to slip through someone even more extreme now, hoping no one will notice.
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- and It's All Her Own Fault
But it sounds like someone else might have been unhappy and thought Harris didn't say what she should have during the debate — some folks in the White House, according to a report from ABC Senior White House Correspondent Selina Wang.
Some White House officials also disappointed that Harris did not stand up for Biden during the debate, a former Biden White House official tells me. Many felt Harris missed opportunities acknowledge that Biden deserves thanks for his service, according to the source.
— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) September 14, 2024
Some White House officials also disappointed that Harris did not stand up for Biden during the debate, a former Biden White House official tells me. Many felt Harris missed opportunities acknowledge that Biden deserves thanks for his service, according to the source.
When you say "a new way forward," it's pretty clear that you think there's a problem happening now. Of course, she's part of that problem, so she can't just stick it all on Old Joe and pretend she's somehow aloof from it.
Who are the "White House officials" — Joe or Jill Biden? This kind of sounds like their grousing and how he thinks he deserves praise for being the worst person to ever occupy the Oval Office. It's pretty sad, frankly. They push him to the side, and someone is still begging for scraps from the table, thinking they owe it to him.
The comments/replies to that post were funny, too, with Democrats like Nate Silver basically telling whoever the Biden people are to shut up and stop whining.
These Biden whiners are incredibly lucky that they got bailed out and that Harris is running a competitive campaign instead of a near-certain loss to Trump. https://t.co/JcHcihIdKt
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) September 14, 2024
Then, Democrats all yelled at Silver for saying that.
Others admitted the obvious — that independents/undecideds don't have a positive view of Biden.
Let's be big kids about this:
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) September 14, 2024
1. Harris winning would clearly reflect well on Biden and the Biden Administration compared to a scenario where she loses.
2. The voters up for grabs do not have a positive view of Biden.
Run to win.https://t.co/JG3jx6zUAl
That's funny that Matthew Yglesias admits that. Unfortunately, for the Harris team, she can't escape her attachment to the Biden-Harris failed performance.
But maybe this is another reason Biden wore the Trump 2024 hat and stood with the kids with the Trump shirts.
The White House, of course, denied this report.
White House response: “This is not the view of @POTUS or his team.
— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) September 14, 2024
The @VP spoke passionately about his leadership and the historic progress they have achieved together.
As he said, in the debate he saw the person who has been his partner for 3.5 years. He and his team are…
White House response: “This is not the view of @POTUS or his team.
The @VP spoke passionately about his leadership and the historic progress they have achieved together.
As he said, in the debate he saw the person who has been his partner for 3.5 years. He and his team are proud of her performance.”
I think it's completely consistent with the way Biden responds to things. But yes, please continue to fight — I think that's a great idea.
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