Joe Biden’s latest gaff, calling Trump supporters “garbage,” has Kamala Harris further distancing herself from him. At a recent presser, she made it a point to tell reporters that she doesn’t share that sentiment. Democrats have desperately tried to spin the incident as Biden misspeaking once again, but the comment, which is clearly captured on video, has become a central talking point for Republicans in the week before Election Day.
Harris indirectly addresses Biden’s “garbage” comment
According to The New York Times, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris distanced herself from President Biden in the wake of his controversial remark that Trump supporters are “garbage.” She stated:
“Let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for.”
Biden later attempted to clarify that he was referring to an individual who made an offensive joke about Puerto Rico, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. However, Republicans were quick to compare it to Hillary Clinton referring to Trump supporters as a “basket of deplorables” during her 2016 run for president.
Experts have speculated that the Harris campaign has been trying to minimize President Biden’s effect on the election. It’s apparent his public speaking abilities have deteriorated over the last four years, which means any public appearance he makes has the potential to be an embarrassment. Additionally, despite being vice president for the last four years, Harris is attempting to paint herself as an agent of change for the country, which is undermined when her increasingly unpopular predecessor is in the background.
The Harris campaign faces increasing scrutiny over internal dynamics and public perception as Election Day approaches. Harris has struggled to break her association with Biden in the public eye without being overt. Meanwhile, Republicans are leveraging Biden’s remarks to rally their base, which can potentially affect the electoral landscape in these final crucial days leading up to November 5.
