Kamala Harris at Essence Festival advocates for Biden administration

“The reality is that of the two candidates, one is clearly better than the other,” she said, adding that nothing she had seen made her feel like Biden needed to be replaced as the front-runner. “If he gets to the point where he feels like he can’t do the job, that’s the point of having a vice president.”

Harris has repeatedly said she supports Biden, doesn’t think he should step down and is willing to run alongside him through November. In her remarks during a 30-minute discussion on the Essence Festival stage, she reminded the crowd that she has worked hard to get results for Black voters on issues like abortion, health care and student loan forgiveness.

“In 122 days, we each have the power to decide what kind of country we want to live in,” Harris said.

The reception to the nation’s first woman and first person of color to serve as vice president was overwhelmingly positive, for both Harris and Biden. While most participants said they saw no reason for Biden to step down from the campaign, some felt he should let Harris lead.

Mecoya Daniels, a Midtown Atlanta resident, attended the Essence festival with her husband, Ronney Daniels. They both said Democrats should have the conversation about replacing Biden on the ticket now.

“I think we always have to be proactive before we react,” Mecoya Daniels said. “I think more people will buy into his campaign if they see a transition starting to happen.”

Credits: AP

Credits: AP

People disturbed by Biden’s debate performance want to hear Harris explain how she plans to step up and “bridge the gap,” Mecoya Daniels said.

Ronney Daniels said it’s time for Harris to step out of Biden’s shadow.

“I think she needs to come forward and let people know that she is highly qualified to lead the United States,” he said.

Shortly before Harris took the stage, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters delivered a speech so rousing in support of Biden that she had the crowd screaming and yelling. She was part of a panel of members of the Congressional Black Caucus who delivered remarks on the importance of voting as they opened Harris’ ceremony.

They all insisted that Biden was staying in the race and encouraged the crowd to stick with him.

Waters noted that at 85, she is four years older than Biden. She said his tough debate night still puts him above Trump, whom she holds responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.

“Do we need to talk about the difference between the two?” she asked. “I will tell you that no matter what people say, it’s not going to be another Democratic candidate,” Waters said. “It’s going to be Biden, and you better know that.”