Vice President Kamala Harris reveals in her new memoir, “107 Days,” that she rejected campaign pressure to praise President Joe Biden’s poor June 2024 debate performance against Donald Trump.
Campaign Insisted Biden Won Debate
Following the debate, the Biden campaign provided Harris with talking points declaring Biden the winner. A sheet of paper stated, “‘JOE BIDEN WON’—all caps, highlighted. ‘He fought through his cold as he is fighting for the American people.’” Harris recounts her immediate disbelief, thinking to herself, “Are you kidding me?” and “No.
Don’t feed me bulls–t. Everyone saw what they saw.”
Harris Refused to Praise Biden
In the `Kamala Harris book 107 Days`, released on a Tuesday, she writes that she would not tell voters “that their eyes had lied.” She compared the campaign’s directive to a Richard Pryor joke where a cheating husband asks his wife, “‘You gonna believe me or your lyin’ eyes?’”
Biden Debate Performance Concerns Mount
The incident occurred as the campaign faced public concern over Biden’s mental acuity. During the debate, Harris wrote that Biden stumbled over words, lost his train of thought, and sounded “hesitant and garbled.” She noted a moment where he “looked disoriented, and blurted out, ‘We finally beat Medicare,’” which prompted Trump to retort, “Well, he’s right.
He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death.”
Rob Reiner Screams at Doug Emhoff
Online reactions described Biden’s performance as a “disaster,” and tensions were high among supporters. At a debate watch party, left-wing Hollywood director Rob Reiner screamed at Harris’s husband, attorney Doug Emhoff. “We’re going to lose our f—ing democracy and it’s your fault!” Reiner reportedly yelled.
The Kamala Harris Memoir Debate on Post-Show Strategy
Instead of defending Biden in a subsequent CNN interview, Harris pivoted to attacking “Trump’s numerous lies.” She told the network, “Listen, people can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance.” She then criticized Trump for his actions related to January 6 and his stance on abortion rights.
