Biden, Harris lash Trump at debut of historic VP choice

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris pushed past ir one-time political rivalry to deliver an aggressive attack on character and performance of President Donald Trump in ir historic first appearance as running mates.

physical debut of Democratic ticket on Wednesday was without parallel in recent political annals. coronavirus prevented Biden and Harris from appearing before large, oring crowd that typically greets a presidential minee and his or her running mate. Inste, y spoke in a mostly empty high school gym where reporters nearly outnumbered campaign aides and candidates' family members.

While pandemic me a tritional campaign rollout impossible, it gave Biden and Harris a setting to emphasize ir criticism of Trump as unable to contend with most severe public health crisis in a century. Harris was particularly sharp in her condemnation of ministration.

“ case against Donald Trump and Mike Pence is open and shut,” Harris said. “This virus has impacted almost every country. But re’s a reason it has hit America worse than any or vanced nation. It’s because of Trump’s failure to take it seriously from start.”

She ded: “This is what happens when we elect a guy who just isn’t up for job.”

Harris is first Black woman on a major party's presidential ticket , and she and Biden ted historical significance.

“This morning, all across nation, little girls woke up — especially little black and brown girls, who so often feel overlooked and undervalued in ir communities. But today, today, just maybe, y’re seeing mselves for first time in a new way,” Biden said.

Harris, who is also of South Asian descent, ted “heroic and ambitious women before me, whose sacrifice, determination and resilience make my presence here today even possible.”

For his part, Trump has struggled to land on a coherent mess about Biden-Harris ticket, casting Democrats as simultaneously too liberal for America and yet t progressive eugh for ir party's base. Trump has resorted to sexist and racist criticism, referring to Harris as “nasty” and tweeting that “ ‘suburban housewife' will be voting for me” to keep neighborhoods safe.

He also ted two Democrats' disagreements during primary campaign last year.

“She said horrible things about him," Trump said Wednesday. "She mocked him, openly mocked him. That’s why I thought that was a very risky pick. Because I’m sure that will be played back.”

But onst in Wilmington, Biden and Harris showed clear affection toward one ar. He called his running mate an “horary Biden," and Harris offered a poignant tribute to his son Beau, whom she was friends with when both served as state attorneys general. Biden seemed overcome with emotion as Harris spoke of Beau, who died in 2015, as “ best of us” and a man who modeled himself after his far.

She signaled that she’ll offer a vigorous defense of Biden’s qualifications on issues of race and civil rights, though she me helines for assailing him for his past opposition to federally mandated busing during a primary debate.

ting Biden's own vice presidency under President Barack Obama, she said he “takes his place in ongoing story of America’s march towards equality and justice” as only person “who’s served alongside first Black president and has chosen first Black woman as his running mate.”

Biden’s choice of Harris brought more than just historical weight to ticket — it also provided a big fundraising boost for campaign. He anunced at a later online fundraiser that campaign raised $26 million in 24 hours since she was anunced, with 150,000 people giving for first time.

Still, day was t without its challenges. main event started an hour late, and gymnasium in which candidates spoke lost its air conditioning after a power out hit area. While most of cable news networks took event live, online livestream cut out just a few minutes into Biden’s remarks.

appearance was first in a rollout that Biden aides say blends historic nature of Harris’ selection with realities of 2020 campaign and gravity of nation’s circumstances, which include pandemic and its dramatic ecomic fallout.

Harris was considered a favorite throughout Biden’s search , and she’s been a regular surrogate campaigner and fundraiser for him since he became presumptive minee.

y’ll neless have to paper over differences exposed during primary campaign, from Harris’ initial support for a single-payer health insurance system and Green New Deal to her deeply personal debate-st broside against Biden over his opposition to federally mandated busing to integrate public schools in 1970s.

Harris longer supports a single-payer health insurance system, aligning inste with Biden’s proposal to d a public insurance option to compete alongside private plans. Still, she memorably raised her hand during one Democratic primary debate when candidates were asked wher y could back a system that scrapped private health insurance altoger.

She has broly endorsed Green New Deal, progressives’ most ambitious set of proposals to combat climate change, but she didn’t make that an anchor of her presidential bid. Biden has moved left on his climate proposals during 2020 campaign but has t fully embraced Green New Deal.

In Washington, Harris has vocated overhauling criminal justice system, intensifying her efforts since George Floyd’s killing by a white Minneapolis police officer in May. And she’s called for sweeping domestic programs to benefit working and middle class. But she has taken heat for some of her aggressive stances as a local prosecutor in San Francisco area and for t prosecuting bank executives in wake of 2008 financial collapse.

Biden bets that, on balance, Harris has bro appeal that will shore up any weaknesses with Black women, an anchor of Democratic Party, and or voters of color, while juicing turut among white liberals and coaxing support from independents and Republican-leaning white voters who have soured on Trump.