In what can only be called an evasion of a rather intriguing question, the staff at the White House refused to comment on whether Vice President Kamala Harris has been receiving debate coaching sessions from President Joe Biden. The query originated from a curious reporter, noting that Biden was actually the last one to face Donald Trump in a heated debate setting. Emphasizing that VP Harris would be treading the same path in around a week, the journalist pondered on the likelihood of Biden imparting some sort of wisdom or guidance to the VP.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the Press secretary, chose not to delve into the specifics of the query. She decided instead to underscore the apparent proximity between the President and the Vice President. ‘They were side by side yesterday,’ she declared ambiguously, without revealing any deeper insight into the pre-debate prep-work. Perhaps, their political alignment is not as strong as it might initially appear.
The President indeed made a rather controversial statement. He labeled his selection of Harris as his vice-presidential running mate as the greatest choice he’s ever made. Even though this description might boost the morale of some, it’s obvious that many others might find this declaration questionable as the track record of this administration has left a lot to be desired.
There poses an inherent awkwardness in the idea of Biden offering advice on debate tactics to VP Harris. The President presumably exhibits pride in his Vice President, perceiving her contribution as indispensable to his presidential tenure over the last few years, Jean-Pierre suggested. Nonetheless, her implication is puzzling considering the White House’s negligence in confirming anything concrete regarding Biden offering Harris any form of guidance.
The Press secretary stressed on how consistently Biden and Harris interact, describing their meetings as more than frequent. ‘They indeed met just yesterday,’ she reminds the reporters, yet giving scant details on what their interactions entail. Her choice of words does not instill a lot of confidence, standing in stark contrast to the supposedly close partnership the duo is supposed to have.
VP Harris is set to enter the debate stage against Donald Trump on Sept. 10 in Philadelphia. However, even before get to the substance of the debate, their respective campaigns seem to be already caught in a verbal tug of war, majorly regarding the protocol of muting the microphones during the debate.
The concept of cutting off microphones after each candidate’s statement surfaced during the first debate. To no one’s surprise, it was the Biden campaign that instigated this unusual tactic in an attempt to gain an unfair advantage during the event. Harris wishes to extend this tactic through the duration of the next debate, initiating needless negotiations over a rule that benefits their side.
VP Harris’ last appearance in a debate was versus former Vice President Mike Pence. It was then when she unleashed her now infamous ‘I’m speaking’ line, a phrase that was repeatedly hammered on throughout the debate. Some perceive it as a bold assertion, however, many others view it as a rather inappropriate attitude towards courteous debate.