VICE President Kamala Harris on Saturday highlighted the dangers of a second Donald Trump administration, rather than growing concerns regarding President Joe Biden’s candidacy, as she tried to convince Black voters to once once more deliver a victory for the Biden-Harris ticket.
“This is probably the most significant election in our lifetime,” Harris said in a moderated conversation at the Essence Festival in New Orleans, claiming that former President Donald Trump had “openly” stated his “intention to be a dictator on Day 1” if re-elected.
Harris’ visit to the annual Black music and culture festival comes as Biden’s campaign works to revive parts of the coalition that helped propel the president to the White House in 2020.
Biden beat Trump 87% to 12% among Black voters in 2020, according to CNN’s exit poll. But Trump has made inroads with this critical voting bloc recently.
A New York Times/Siena College survey of battleground states released in May found Trump winning more than 20% of Black voters in a two-way matchup with Biden, which would be a historic high if translated into votes in November.
Harris tried to reassure festival attendees that “we can get through this” if they once once more vote in large numbers.
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“People voted in huge numbers in 2020. This is what can happen, and when people vote in those numbers once more in 122 days, we can get through this,” Harris said.
The White House has struggled in recent days to allay concerns regarding the president’s mental abilities and campaign viability following his poor performance in last week’s CNN presidential debate.
Some Democrats have called on the president to reconsider his candidacy, while others have called for him to drop out. Biden has held firm, telling reporters in Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday that he is “absolutely opposed” to dropping out of the race.
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Many see Harris as the obvious successor if Biden steps down, with a recent CNN poll conducted following the debate showing the vice president leading Biden in a hypothetical race once morest Trump. Meanwhile, some Republicans are hoping to avoid a Harris presidential nomination because they believe Trump’s path back to the White House would likely be easier once morest Biden.
But Harris has repeatedly defended Biden, and CNN reported earlier this week that the vice president and his staff have been deliberately ignoring most of her calls and messages, reiterating that she intends to stay by his side.
The vice president managed to avoid talking regarding concerns within his own party on Saturday, as the moderator did not specifically ask regarding concerns regarding Biden’s re-election bid. Meanwhile, other Biden supporters at the event addressed the issue directly, backing the president and telling voters he’s not going anywhere.
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Joyce Beatty thinks Biden shouldn’t drop out of the race just because of one debate.
“We all have bad days,” the Ohio Democrat said, later adding: “Don’t go out and turn your back on this president.”
California’s Maxine Waters stressed, “Biden isn’t going anywhere.”
Asked if she would support Harris — a fellow Californian — if the president steps down, Waters said, “We’re focused on Biden. We’re focused on the fact that not only has he done a great job, but we anticipate that he’s going to continue to do it.”
Many festival attendees who spoke to CNN said they thought Harris was ready to take over if Biden dropped out of the race. But ultimately, voters said they would cast their ballots for whoever the Democratic nominee is in November.
“Keep the ticket that way. The time will come. … Stick with the plan. You have a plan; stick with the plan. It worked before; it will work once more,” said Jeri Peris, a New Orleans resident.
Peris said Biden’s poor debate performance was a “one-off,” adding, “Everybody gets sick. He’s a good president. He’s a good guy. He’s done great things. Everybody has bad days.”
Laura Morgan Roberts of Washington, D.C., said it was an “easy decision” that she would vote for Biden in November, but added, “I am 100% confident in Vice President Kamala Harris’ ability, commitment and desire to lead this country and do what’s best for our people.”
Meanwhile, Michelle Buxton of Chattanooga, Tennessee, told CNN, “It’s like they didn’t give him a chance.”
“We’re all here working together and I think it almost feels personal,” Buxton said. “I just don’t think they should take him down.” (CNN/Z-3)
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