Before all the candidates had taken the stage on the second night of CNN’s Democratic presidential debate, the much-anticipated match-up between Joe Biden and Kamala Harris began with seemingly friendly banter.
As Harris strode onto Detroit’s Fox Theatre stage immediately after Biden was introduced, the two shook hands as Biden said, “Go easy on me, kid.”
But the interaction was not taken lightly by Harris’ press secretary, who questioned Biden’s use of the word “kid” in a tweet.
— Ian Sams (@IanSams) August 1, 2019
This is the second time Biden and Harris have debated. At NBC’s presidential debates last month, the two had butted heads over Biden’s comments about segregationist lawmakers and his stance on school busing programs.
“It was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country. And it was not only that, but you also worked with them to oppose busing,” Harris said at that debate. “And, you know, there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bused to school every day. And that little girl was me.”
In his response, Biden claimed that was a “mischaracterization” of his positions.
Watch the interaction at Wednesday’s debate below:
Joe Biden to Kamala Harris: "Go easy on me, kid." #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/lBlnaAwCTy
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 1, 2019