'Disappointing': Harris campaign spokesman on upcoming debate rules

WE KNOW WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING IT, WHAT DOES IT DO FOR OUR HEALTH? >> WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA TO BE A SAFER PLACE? >> NBC NEWS DAILY, WEEKDAYS ON NBC NEWS NOW. >>> WELCOME BACK. JORDAN ME NOW IS SENIOR NATIONAL SPOKESMAN FOR THE HARRIS-WALZ CAMPAIGN AND A FORMER WHITE HOUSE STAFFER. THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH ME THIS AFTERNOON. WE ARE GOING TO TALK POLICY, OF COURSE, BUT I HAVE TO START WITH TWO THINGS, THE ALL IMPORTANT DEBATE. WE HAVE LEARNED NOW THE RULES ARE SET. THE MICROPHONES WILL BE TURNED OFF WHEN THE OTHER PERSON IS SPEAKING. WE KNOW THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU GUYS WERE PUSHING FOR. TELL ME YOUR REACTION TO THIS. >> YES, A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED. I THINK THE VICE PRESIDENT FELT STRONGLY ABOUT HAVING THE MICROPHONES UNMUTED SO THE AMERICAN PEOPLES COULD SEE A REAL DEBATE WITH REAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES BACK AND FORTH. I THANK YOU THINK ABOUT THE VIRAL MOMENT OF HER THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER FROM HER TIME IN THE SENATE WHERE TRUMP APPOINTEES FOR THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, THE WAY SHE IS INCISIVE IN HER QUESTIONING, ASKING THEM TO DRAW UP THE TRUTH OF FACTS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT TAKEN AWAY FROM HER IN THIS DEBATE IS A CHALLENGE. I THINK WE WISH THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN HAD UNDERSTOOD THAT THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT CANDIDATES, AND THAT IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN WANTED TO KEEP A MUSCLE ON THEIR CANDIDATE SO THEY COULD TRY TO INSTILL SOME DISCIPLINE. I THINK THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THOSE EXCHANGES WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT. WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP HIM UNDER CONTROL -- THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP HIM UNDER CONTROL. IT IS PROBABLY GOOD FOR THEM. IT IS PROBABLY HELPFUL. IT WILL HELP DONALD TRUMP STAY UNDER CONTROL AND MORE CALLED AND MORE DISCIPLINED AND RESTRAINED. INTO, FOR EXAMPLE, HE LIED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT MAYBE HE SEEMED MORE NORMAL BECAUSE HE COULD NOT BE INTERRUPTING AND INTERJECTING ALL THE TIME. THIS IS A GUY WHO IS A SHOW MEMBER OF THE KEYNOTE TO PERFORM IN DEBATES LIKE THIS. VICKI KNOWS HOW TO GET READY FOR THE BIG LIGHTS ON TV. AND HE IS A VERY EXPERIENCED DEBATER AT THIS POINT. THIS IS HIS SEVENTH GENERAL ELECTION PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE MOST OF ANYBODY IN HISTORY. I THINK WE ARE LOOKING TO SEE THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY READY TO HAVE HIM SEEM A LITTLE BIT MORE RESTRAINED AND NORMAL FOR THE COUNTRY. >> I HEAR YOU TRYING TO LOWER EXPECTATIONS. IS THERE A REASON YOU ARE DOING THAT? >> YOU KNOW, IT IS INTERESTING YOU SAY LOWERING EXPECTATIONS. DONALD TRUMP IS IN THE SEAN HANNITY TOWN HALL IN PENNSYLVANIA ATTACKING ABC, CLAIMING CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT GETTING THE QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME. PEOPLE ARE TRULY TALKING ABOUT THAT -- THAT AS DONALD TRUMP LOWERING EXPEDITIONS. >> TO BE FAIR, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT TOO, BUT SINCE I'M A REVIEW, I WANTED TO PUT THE QUESTION TO YOU. >> I THINK IT IS A LITTLE BIT DISPIRITING THAT THE MUTE BUTTON WILL BE ON FOR THE DEBATE AND PREVENT THE CANDIDATE FROM BEING ABLE TO GO BACK AND FORTH. BUT LOOK, REGARDLESS OF THAT, VICE PRESIDENT WILL COME TO THE DEBATE READY TO TALK ABOUT THE CHOICE IN THE ELECTION. THE CHOICE BETWEEN HIS ECONOMIC VISION AND HERS. TRICKLE-DOWN AND BIG CORPORATION THE BILLIONAIRES GETTING TAX CUTS, OR HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND WORKING PEOPLE. SHE WILL PAY THE DIVISION. YOU WILL TALK ABOUT HOW WE COULD TURN THE PAGE ON DONALD TRUMP AND MOVE INTO THE FUTURE WITH A NEW WAY FORWARD FOR THE COUNTRY. THOSE ARE THINGS YOU WILL BE READY TO TALK ABOUT. SHE IS EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. I THINK IT IS JUST A MATTER, AS WE TALK ABOUT THE RULES, TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE UNFORTUNATE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE TO CONTINUE PUSHING FOR THE MUTED MICROPHONES BY THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. >> LET ME ASK YOU NOW ABOUT POLICY. OBVIOUSLY, THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN ROLLING OUT THE DETAILS OF HER ECONOMIC POLICY. SHE SIGNALED SHE POURED -- SHE SUPPORTS PART OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BUDGET THAT CONTAINS ANY TAX POLICY. THIS IS A YES OR NO QUESTION. DOES THAT INCLUDE THE BILLIONAIRES MINIMUM TAX THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY TAX UNREALIZED CAPITAL GAINS FOR AMERICANS WITH WEALTH ABOVE $100 MILLION? >> THE VICE PRESIDENT ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY. SHE SEES THE PROPOSAL SHE PUT FORWARD ON CAPITAL GAINS AND INVESTMENT IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND STARTUPS IN THIS COUNTRY AS APPROPRIATE IN BALANCE WITH THE SWEETER PROPOSALS SHE IS ALSO FOR, INCLUDING THE BILLIONAIRE WILL YOU KNOW -- MINIMUM TAX, QUADRUPLING TAXES ON STOCK BUYBACKS. >> SO THAT IS A YES? >> HIGHER CORPORATE TAX RATE. WE SAW TRUCK TODAY TALK ABOUT THIS. YES, SHE SAID SHE IS FOR THE BILLIONAIRES MINIMUM TAX AND STRESSED THAT AGAIN YESTERDAY. THE REASON I PUT ALL THESE THINGS TOGETHER IS, I THINK SHE REJECTS THE FALSE CHOICE THAT WE CAN EITHER BE FOR USING THE TAX CODE TO FOSTER INVESTMENT AND GROWTH IN OUR STARTUP AND ENTREPRENEUR COMMUNITY AND TAKING ON THOSE AT THE VERY TOP AND THE VERY WEALTHY. SHE THINKS WE CAN DO BOTH. SHE THINK SOME OF THE PROPOSALS WE HAVE SEEN, INCLUDING PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BUDGET BLUEPRINT OF 30 9.6% , THAT IS A LITTLE BIT TOO HIGH FOR HOW SHE SEES HOW YOU CAN INCENTIVIZE ENTREPRENEURS. WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE THE BILLIONAIRE MINIMUM TAX. RAISING THE CORPORATE TAX RATE, THE STOCK BUYBACKS QUADRUPLING, THAT IS REALLY STRONG PROPOSAL TO TARGET THE VERY TOP TO ENSURE WE CREATE MORE REVENUE TO PAY FOR REALLY IMPORTANT PRIORITIES TO THE MIDDLE CLASS. >> YOU TAKE ME TO MY NEXT SESSION. YOU TALK ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS AND STARTUPS. A CONGRESSMAN PUSHBACK ON THE IDEA SAYING EXACTLY THAT. THIS IS GOING TO STIFLE STARTUPS. IT COULD HER ENTREPRENEURS. HOW DO YOU COUNTER THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, THAT OPPOSITION COMING FROM WITHIN YOUR OWN PARTY? ONE OF HER TOP STORY GET SAYING THAT. >> I WAS WATCHING CONGRESSMAN KAUNDA TALK ABOUT HER PROPOSAL SHE ANNOUNCED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ABOUT THE LOWER CAPITAL GAINS RATE THAN WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS PROPOSED. HE WAS SAYING HE THINKS THIS MAKES SENSE. THIS IS A GOOD SWEETER PROPOSALS AND A SMART PLAN TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES AND INCREASED -- INCREASE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND STARTUPS IN THIS COUNTRY. I THINK EVERY DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN WON'T AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE AND MANY OTHER DEMOCRATS HAVE SPOKEN UP TO SAY VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WILL HELP SMALL BUSINESSES AND WORKING PEOPLE, WHICH IS SUCH A CONTRAST TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE NEW YORK ECONOMIC CLUB WHERE HE IS PUSHING EVEN MORE TAX CUTS FOR CORPORATIONS AND THOSE AT THE TOP. A REALLY STARK DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. >> LET ME ASK YOU, BROADLY SPEAKING, BECAUSE SHE HAS PUT OUT A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS, INCLUDING A BAN ON PRICE GOUGING , A SMALL INCREASE IN THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX, BUT HOW SHOULD PEOPLE THINK ABOUT A HARRIS ADMINISTRATION AS COMPARED TO A BIDEN ADMINISTRATION? WHERE WILL THE BIG DIFFERENCES THE? WILL THERE BE ANY BIG DIFFERENCES? >> YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME AREAS WHERE THEY DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT ON HOW TO GET HE POLICIES. >> AROUND THE EDGES. >> I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT CANDIDATES. I THINK THE COUNTRY AND VOTERS VIEW THEM AS DIFFERENT PEOPLE. I THINK PEOPLE CAN SEE THE PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AREN'T THE SAME PERSON. I THINK WHAT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS TALKED ABOUT HER VALUES AND PRIORITIES, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THE PRICE GOUGING PROPOSAL, THIS IS SOMEONE WHO SPENT 15 YEARS, 20 YEARS OF THEIR CAREER AS A PROSECUTOR TAKING ON SPECIAL INTERESTS, BIG POWERFUL INTERESTS ON BEHALF OF REGULAR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WRONGED BY THEM. YOU THINK ABOUT HER POLICY PROPOSALS IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE REALLY BIG, POWERFUL INTERESTS OUT THERE WHO ARE SCREWING OVER REGULAR PEOPLE, AND WE NEED TO ACTUALLY USE OUR POLICY PROGRAM TO TAKE THEM ON IN ORDER TO GET RELIEF TO SOME PEOPLE. THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK WE HAVE NOT TALKED A TON ABOUT OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. IT AGAIN, I THINK THERE ARE PLACES SHE CAN CONTINUE TO ROLLOUT IDEAS AND TALK ABOUT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF A DISTINCTION FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN. I THINK THE OTHER THING IS PUTTING FORWARD IDEAS THAT GROW ON A SPAN UPON PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN. I DON'T THINK THAT THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF SHORTHAND THAT MAYBE THERE IS A MASSIVE BREAK OR SOMETHING. I THINK THERE PLACES WHERE THEY DISAGREE. THEY ARE DIFFERENT CANDIDATES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE HAVE BEEN AMAZING SUCCESSES UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. SHE IS UTTING FORWARD IDEAS ON HOW TO BUILD ON THAT AND TALK TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT HER OWN VALUES AND VISION FOR DOING THIS YOU NEED TO HER AS A CANDIDATE. >> WHAT ASK YOU ABOUT PRICE GOUGING. A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW PRACTICALLY THAT WOULD PLAY OUT. FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE GOVERNMENT SET A MAXIMUM PRICE ON FOOD AND GROCERIES? >> NO. I THINK THE REPUBLICANS NOW SUDDENLY, WHICH IS INTERESTING. LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS FOR A SECOND. DONALD TRUMP REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN ATTACKING HER FOR PRICE CONTROLS, WHICH IT ISN'T. ECONOMISTS HAVE SAID IT ISN'T. >> BUT ECONOMISTS HAVE ALSO QUESTIONED THE PLAN. >> WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL IS THAT 40 STATES ALREADY HAVE PROPOSALS ON THE BOX. IT IS JUST NOT A FEDERAL LAW. IN FACT, THERE HAS BEEN BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS, WHO PUT FORWARD SUGGESTIONS THAT WE TAKE ON CORPORATE PRICE GOUGING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. IT IS INTERESTING THAT SUDDENLY IDEAS REPUBLICANS USED TO SUPPORT ARE BEING ATTACKED BY REPUBLICANS WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT PROPOSES THEM. I THINK THERE IS GAMEPLAYING HAPPENING BY THOSE ON THE RIGHT WHEN WHAT THE VICE PRESIDENT IS TALKING ABOUT IS EASING THE BURDEN ON PEOPLE WHEN CORPORATIONS ARE CHARGING MORE THAN THEY SHOULD BE ON PRODUCTS IN MOMENTS OF VULNERABILITY. I THINK WE HAVE SEEN -- YOU HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION IN THE PRESS AND ECONOMIC NEWS OVER THE LAST YEAR TO ABOUT SHRINKFLATION, FOR EXAMPLE. SELLING SMALLER PRODUCT FOR THE SAME PRICE THAT THE PRODUCT USED TO BE. THIS IS THE KIND OF CORPORATE BEHAVIOR SHE IS TALKING ABOUT TAKING ON IN ORDER TO BRING DOWN PRICES FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. >> BEFORE I LET YOU GO, I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE DEVELOPING NEWS RIGHT NOW. HUNTER BIDEN IN COURT ON TAX RELATED CHARGES HE IS FACING. WE ANTICIPATE HE WILL ENTER A PLEA DEAL. THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET. BUT THAT IS OUR ANTICIPATION. AS PRESIDENT, WHAT NOW VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS PARDON HIM? IS THAT OFF THE TABLE? >> YOU HEARD PRESIDENT BIDEN MAKE THE COMMITMENT THAT THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN. I WOULD NOT IMAGINE THAT CHANGING WITH VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. >> IS SHE COMMITTED TO NOT? >> OBVIOUSLY, THE CASE IS STILL ONGOING. WE WANT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL AND RESPECTFUL OF THE COURT PROCESS. I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD BE POLITICIZED FROM THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN. >> UNDERSTOOD. PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS TAKEN IT OFF THE TABLE. HAS THE VICE PRESIDENT? >> SHE IS NOT PLANNING TO PARDON ANYONE. BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO SENTENCE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW