Biden’s Off-Script Remarks Create Headache for Harris Ahead of Election
President Joe Biden’s recent off-the-cuff remarks have created a new challenge for Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris just days before Election Day, The Associated Press reports.
Despite warnings to “slow up” during a speech criticizing Donald Trump on Tuesday, Biden made an impromptu comment on a Zoom call with a Hispanic advocacy group that has drawn criticism from Republicans.
Biden said that the “only garbage” he sees “floating out there” is Trump’s supporters, in response to a comic’s insults about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally.
The president quickly clarified his remarks on social media, saying he was only referring to Trump’s “demonization of Latinos.” However, Republicans seized on the comments, accusing Biden of denigrating Trump supporters.
The incident is particularly damaging as Harris attempts to deliver a “closing argument” for her campaign that emphasizes the need for unity after Trump’s divisive presidency.
Harris has been trying to differentiate herself from Biden, who has largely been absent from the campaign trail since withdrawing from the presidential race in July. However, Biden has recently stepped up his political activity, even as many in his own party appear to be distancing themselves from him.
Harris on Tuesday strongly disagreed with any criticism of people based on who they vote for. Her aides were already frustrated by another Biden gaffe last week, when he told Democratic campaign workers to “lock him up” in reference to Trump.
Harris has consistently quieted such chants at her rallies, saying the courts would handle Trump’s legal issues.
Biden’s comments have also overshadowed Harris’s events at times. He made a surprise address to reporters just as Harris was about to go onstage in Michigan, and spoke from the Oval Office on Hurricane Helene when Harris had canceled campaign events to return to Washington for a briefing.
In a further slip-up, Biden referred to Trump’s “Puerto Rico comments” during a speech on infrastructure funding, despite the fact that Harris was delivering a speech on the same topic nearby.
