MIAMI — Attacking Joe Biden on his past opposition to federal busing was a risk that paid off for Kamala Harris, the foundation for her standout debate performance that could change the Democratic presidential primary.
Aaron Kall, director of debate at the University of Michigan, told the Washington Examiner that the California senator succeeded in Thursday’s debate in part because she took a gamble that some of the other candidates on the stage weren’t willing to take.
“Biden could counter-attack, counter-punch, but it didn’t happen. She definitely bested Biden in that exchange,” Kall said. “The major takeaway from the debate overall would be Kamala Harris’ performance.”
“I just feel that we have to be honest about what happened,” Harris told reporters after the debate. “And I said what I meant. And I think it’s really important for us to remember our nation’s history. And it’s not history from a very long time ago. It directly impacted me.”
“I’m really proud of her. Very proud of her,” Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, added.
Biden opted to skip the post-debate “spin room,” where reporters ask contenders more questions. His surrogates insisted to reporters that the former vice president wasn’t hurt by the confrontation. He did not want to attack fellow Democratic candidates, they argued.
“I think people saw him listening intently and honestly to a very powerful story from Sen. Harris,” Kate Bedingfield, deputy Biden campaign manager and communications director, told reporters.
There is a difference, though, between going on the attack and responding to an attack. “Biden didn’t do that, and I think you have to or else you look weak,” Kall said.
Kall speculated that Biden’s debate skills may be rusty after so many years away from it. He has a chance, though, to come back swinging in the second round of debates in July.
