David Axelrod on Biden’s embattled candidacy and Democratic Party (Full Stream 7/22)

>> THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR DEMOCRACY BELONGS TO US ALL OF GOVERNMENT FOR OUR TOMORROW. >> I DON'T WANT TO SOLVE THIS WE GATHER BECAUSE WE HAVE CHOSEN HOPE OVERFEED, DOES THIS MOMENT IS YOUR MOMENT IF PHI LAW DO YOU MEET THIS MOMENT AS THE UNITED STATES HELLO, AND WELCOME TO WASHINGTON POST LIVE. I'M US MEAN ABU TALIB, A WHITE HOUSE REPORTER HERE AT THE POST TODAY. I'M DELIGHTED TO BE JOINED BY DAVID AXELROD, FORMER SENIOR ADVISER TO FORMER PRESIDENT BARAK OBAMA, WHO'S JOINING US JUST ONE DAY AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED HIS MONUMENTAL DECISION TO STEP ASIDE FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. DAVID, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY IS ME GOOD TO BE WITH YOU BRIGHT IN. SO WE SAW PRESIDENT BIDEN WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF HIS ANNOUNCEMENT, MOVE TO ENDORSE HIS VICE PRESIDENT, KAMALA HARRIS SINCE THEN, IT SEEMS MOST OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS RALLIED BEHIND HER. TODAY, JUST ABOUT AN HOUR AGO, WE HAD FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER, NANCY PELOSI, THREW HER WEIGHT BEHIND HARRIS. SO AT THIS POINT, DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANY QUESTION AS TO WHO THE NOMINEE IS GOING TO BE OR COULD A CHALLENGE STILL EMERGE TO HARRIS? >> I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT WILL BE THE NOMINEE. I DON'T THINK THAT EVERY 31 WHO HAS BEEN MENTIONED AS A SERIOUS CHALLENGER HAS ENDORSED HER NOW THIS FORMER SPEAKER, SPEAKER EMERITA PELOSI, WHO HAD BEEN ADVOCATING MORE OF AN OPEN CONVENTION FORMAT, HAS ENDORSED HER SO I REALLY DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH MYSTERY LEFT. SHE'S THE CANDIDATE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, THE PARTY IS ENTHUSED ABOUT MARCHING BEHIND HER SO WE DID HAVE SOME OTHER NOTABLE FIGURES, INCLUDING BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON, BOTH ENDORSE HARRIS YOUR FORMER BOSS, PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS NOT YET ENDORSED HER IN HIS STATEMENT, HE HAD SAID SOMETHING LIKE, THERE WILL BE A PROCESS FOR MUCH AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE WILL EMERGE. >> SO DO YOU HAVE INSIGHT INTO WHY HE HASN'T YET ENDORSED HARRIS ARE JUST KNOWING HIM WHAT YOU THINK HIS THINKING MIGHT BE ON THIS? >> YEAH WE SHOULD NOTE FORMER BOSS. >> I MEAN, HE'S A FRIEND AND I VALUE THAT FRIENDSHIP, BUT I DON'T SPEAK FOR HIM. >> BUT HE HAS EXPRESSED IN THE PAST THAT HE WANTS TO PLAY THE ROLE OF SOMEONE WHO CAN PULL ELEMENTS OF THE PARTY TOGETHER IF THERE IS A COMPETITION IT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR NOW THAT THAT COMPETITION IS NOT GOING TO EMERGE AND THAT, THE VICE PRESIDENT'S TEAM HAS BANNON AND SHE HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN THESE LESS THAN 24 HOURS IN REALLY, I DESCRIBED IT YESTERDAY AS A KIND OF SHOCK AND AWE CAMPAIGN. THEY'VE DISPLAYED THERE THEIR COMMAND TO THE MOMENT AND THEY'VE BACKED ANYONE WHO IS THINKING ABOUT RUNNING OUT AND SO I EXPECT THAT HE WILL HE'S A KEEN OBSERVER OF EVENTS. >> I'M SURE THAT HE WILL READ THAT AS THE PROCESS. I MEAN, THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS TO WRITE SHE WENT OUT THERE, SHE SAID, I WANT TO EARN THIS AND SHE WENT ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF EARNING IT BY MAKING THE CALLS, DOING THE WORK AND UNIFYING THE PARTY SO I DON'T THINK AS I SAID, THERE'S ANY MYSTERY NOW EXCUSE ME. >> DO YOU THINK PRESIDENT OBAMA BELIEVES AND I ALSO WANT TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS THAT SHE RIGHT NOW IS THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE TO TAKE ON DONALD TRUMP. >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, SHE'S THE ONLY CANDIDATE TO TAKE ON DONALD TRUMP. AND I THINK THERE'S AN ARGUMENT FOR WHY SHE WOULD BE A STRONG CAN'T A VERY STRONG CANDIDATE, STARTING WITH EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, HAVING BEEN AROUND PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS FOR A LONG TIME I THINK THE THING THAT PEOPLE MISS IS JUST HOW DIFFICULT, RUNNING FOR NATIONAL OFFICE IS IT'S YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW PROFICIENT YOU ARE AT THE STATE LEVEL OR ANOTHER WALKS OF LIFE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE SHE HAS SHE'S BEEN IN THE DEEP END OF THE POOL. NO ONE ELSE HAS. >> AND WHILE SHE MAY HAVE GONE UNDER AT TIMES DURING THE COURSE OF THESE LAST FIVE YEARS SHE DIDN'T HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN IN 2020 CLEARLY, SHE UNDERSTANDS THE DEMANDS OF RUNNING FOR NATIONAL OFFICE AND FOR PRESIDENT. >> AND SHE ALSO HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING WORKED WITH THE PRESIDENT FOR THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS, HAVING BEEN IN THOSE MEETINGS, HAVING BEEN IN THE SITUATION HAVING SEEN THE JOB IN A VERY INTEGRAL WAY AND THAT'S A TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE. I THINK ANYONE WHO'S OBSERVED HAS SEEN HER GROW INTO THIS ROLE. SHE IS A FAR DIFFERENT FAR DIFFERENT PUBLIC PERSONALITY AND FAR DIFFERENT CANDIDATE THAN SHE WAS FOUR YEARS AGO. SO YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT THERE, A LOT OF TOWN PEOPLE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, NONE OF THEM HAVE HAVE HAD BEEN THROWN INTO THE DEEP END FOUR MONTHS BEFORE A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND SO I THINK THAT IS A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR I WANT TO HONE IN ON WHAT YOU BROUGHT UP AT THE END BECAUSE I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A CONCERN AMONG MANY PEOPLE'S AT HER 2019 RUN, YOU KNOW, SHE HAD TO DROP OUT BEFORE THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY EVEN BEGAN SO WHAT WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS MADE HER BETTER POSITIONED TO RUN A PRESIDENTIAL RACE RIGHT NOW? AND OF COURSE, I'LL NOTE THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE VERY DIFFERENT. SHE WILL INHERIT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ENTIRE CAMPAIGN OPERATION. ALL OF THE MONEY THAT HE HAD ALREADY RAISED. WE KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A FLOOD OF DONATIONS AND JUST THE 24 HOURS SINCE HE ANNOUNCED HE WAS STEPPING DOWN AND IT BECAME VERY CLEAR SHE WAS MOST LIKELY GOING TO BECOME THE CANDIDATE. BUT WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU NOTICED AND DO YOU THINK? WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES HER MORE POSITIONED OR BETTER POSITIONED TO RUN THIS RACE NOW THAN SHE WAS FOUR YEARS AGO? >> WELL, LOOK OPERATIONALLY, THERE IS THERE IS THERE ARE ASSETS AROUND HER THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE FOUR YEARS AGO, BUT I'M MORE INTERESTED IN HER OWN PERFORMANCE. WHAT I SEE IN HER NOW IS A MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE CANDIDATE, AND MUCH, MORE COMFORTABLE PUBLIC OFFICIAL IN HER COMMUNICATION SHE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND PARTICULARLY IN HER CAMPAIGN AND IN THE EARLY PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION WAS SHE WAS A LITTLE BIT UNCERTAIN IN HER COMMUNICATIONS. SHE WAS SHE WAS TRYING TO FIND HER FOOTING. YOU DON'T SEE THAT ANYMORE? SHE SEEMS LIKE A MORE CONFIDENT CANDIDATE, A MORE COMMANDING CANDIDATE. >> AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE SHE IS SHE'S UP TO THE TASK NOW. >> WHEREAS YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE SAID THAT FOUR YEARS AGO LISTEN OF COURSE TIME WILL TELL SHE'LL BE TESTED IN A REALLY THEY'RE ALREADY LAUNCHING ADS, ADDS AT HER AND SHE'LL HAVE THE FULL FORCE OF THE TRUMP MACHINE IN THE MAGAZINE. MACHINE AIMED AT FROM NOW TO THE END AND WE'LL SEE HOW SHE PERRY'S THAT GETS BACK ON OFFENSE. AND SO ON. BUT THERE IS SOME VALUE IN HAVING TRIED AND FAILED. I MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF CANDIDATES WHO BARACK OBAMA LOST A CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY BY 30 POINTS IN ILLINOIS BEFORE HE GOT ELECTED TO THE US SENATE AND THEN GOT ELECTED PRESIDENT. AND HE WOULD TELL YOU THAT YOU LEARN THINGS FROM THE NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS WELL AS THE POSITIVE ONES I IMAGINED THAT SHE'S TAKEN SOME LESSONS AWAY FROM FROM HER PREVIOUS AND PAINTED FROM SOME OF HER STRUGGLES EARLY IN THE ADMINISTRATION. BUT CLEARLY SHE SO MUCH MORE CONFIDENT AND COMMANDING PRESENCE NOW THAN SHE WAS THAT A LOT OF PRESSURE FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DROP OUT CAME FROM DEMOCRATIC DONORS AND WE HAVE MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, THE FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR. AND WHO IS ALSO OF COURSE A MAJOR DEMOCRATIC PARTY DONOR. HE SO FAR HAS DECLINED TO ENDORSE HARRIS AND SAID THE DECISION IS TOO IMPORTANT TO RUSH WE KNOW THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS RAISED $50 IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER SHE ENTERED THE RACE SO WHAT IS YOUR READ ON WHERE MOST MAJOR DEMOCRATIC DONORS ARE IN REGARD TO HER CANDIDACY? >> MY SENSE IS THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT THING THAT UNIFIES DEMOCRATS NOW IS IS A DETERMINATION TO WANT TO DEFEAT TRUMP. AND THE DONOR CERTAINLY FEEL THAT I THINK THE THEY BASICALLY WENT ON STRIKE BECAUSE THEY AS MUCH AFFECTION AND RESPECT AS THEY HAD FOR THE PRESIDENT. THEY FELT THAT HE COULDN'T WIN THE RACE AND THAT THERE WAS NO CHANCE TO WIN THE RACE. >> IF HE REMAINED ON THE BALLOT. >> HE'S NOW STEPPED ASIDE. WHICH WAS INCREDIBLY HARD DECISION. I'M SURE. BUT HE'S CLEARED THE WAY AND NOW I THINK THERE'S A GENERAL SENSE WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW, OF EXCITEMENT AND POSSIBILITY AND YES, MANY OF THEM HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT HOW THIS SHOULD PROCEED. SOME OF THE MAY HAVE HAD OTHER CANDIDATES IN MIND BUT ALL OF THEM UNDERSTAND THAT SHE'S A VIABLE CANDIDATE WHO CAN WIN THIS ELECTION. >> AND THEIR I THINK MOST OF THEM ARE GOING TO OPEN UP THE SPIGOT AGAIN AND I I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT IF SHE DOESN'T WIN THIS RACE IS NOT GOING TO BE BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES. >> I THINK THE RESOURCES WILL BE THERE ACCORDING TO REPORTING FROM THE POST, THERE WERE DEMOCRATIC LAWYERS AND OPERATIVES WHO HAD ARGUED THAT ELEVATING HARRIS TO BE THE NOMINEE WAS THE EASIEST SOLUTION FOR THE PARTY IN LARGE PART, BECAUSE ELEVATING HER WOULD PREVENT A LOT OF LEGAL HEADACHES BECAUSE HER NAME WAS ALREADY ON THE BALLOT AND ON PAPERWORK THAT WAS FILED WITH THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION. THERE ARE OF COURSE, REPUBLICANS THREATENING TO SUE. >> WE KNOW DONALD TRUMP ALREADY CALLING THIS A COUP WE KNOW THAT HE VERY MUCH WANTED TO RUN AGAINST JOE BIDEN BUT DO REPUBLICANS HAVE ANY LEGAL STANDING TO CHALLENGE THIS CHANGE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET. AND HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK THESE CHALLENGES WILL BE? >> WELL, LOOK THE COURTS HAVE SURPRISED ME LATELY, SO I'M NOT A LAWYER, SO I DON'T WANT TO VENTURE INTO THOSE WATERS, BUT I WILL SAY THIS. I FIND IT REALLY IRONIC. I HEARD THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE YESTERDAY TALKING ABOUT WHAT AND WHEN ABROGATION OF DEMOCRACY, IT, WOULD BE IF JOE BIDEN WERE TO LEAVE THE TICKET OR AS HE SAID, TO BE FORCED ON THE TICKET, JOE BIDEN LEFT THE TICKET OF HIS OWN VOLITION YOU KNOW, THESE GUYS DON'T HAVE REALLY STRONG STANDING TO TALK ABOUT HE TALKED ABOUT OVERRIDING THE WILL OF VOTERS THAT'S KINDA WHAT THE WHOLE JANUARY 6 WAS ALL ABOUT. I MEAN, IT WAS AN EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE PRESIDENT AND HIS SUPPORTERS TO OVERTURN THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. I DON'T THINK THEY WANT TO GET INTO A LONG DEBATE. ABOUT WHETHER THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS BEING RESPECTED. JOE BIDEN HAS EVERY RIGHT TO STEP ASIDE IF HE WANTS TO STEP ASIDE. I SAW TRUMP WAS SAYING, WELL, REPUBLICANS SHOULD SUE BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD TO EXPEND ALL THIS MONEY ATTACKING JOE BIDEN. AND NOW HE'S NOT RUNNING WELL. >> I DON'T KNOW. >> THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING CASE TO LITIGATE. I KNOW HE'S A LITIGIOUS CHARACTER AND MAYBE HE WANTS TO FILE THAT SUIT. I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO GET VERY FAR WITH THAT ONE, EVEN WITH A FRIENDLY JUDGE. SO I REALLY DON'T THEY MAY AS A NUISANCE, A MATTER OF NUISANCE, TRY AND DO THAT, BUT I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT COURTS ARE GOING TO DEPRIVE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ITS CHOSEN NOMINEE SO I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STATE OF THE RACE RIGHT NOW AND WHAT HARRIS NEEDS TO DO OVER THE NEXT, I THINK WE HAVE 106 DAYS. >> SO WE KNOW FROM OUR OWN REPORTING AND FROM OTHERS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND LARGE PART DROPPED OUT AFTER HIS SENIOR ADVISORS BROUGHT HIM POLLING SHOWING HE DID NOT HAVE A PATH TO VICTORY ANYMORE. AND WASHINGTON POST AVERAGE OF 11 POST-DEBATE POLLS TRUMP EDGE SHOT HARRIS BY ONE-AND-A-HALF PERCENTAGE POINTS ONLY SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE 1.9 POINT LEAD OVER BIDEN IN THE SAME POLL. I WONDER IF YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HARRIS CAN DO IN THIS RACE, THAT BIDEN COULDN'T AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. BUT BEFORE WE EVEN GET TO THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IF YOU WERE ADVISING HARRIS'S CAMPAIGN, WHAT WOULD YOU BE TELLING THEM RIGHT NOW? WHAT IS THE WORK THAT THEY NEED TO DO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS? >> OH, WELL FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THAT THEY ARE THEY'RE RELATED ORGANIZATIONS. SO THE PACKS OUGHT TO BE ON THE AIR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU DON'T WANT TO CEDE WEEKS TOO. >> TRUMP. >> TO DEFINE HER WITHOUT RESPONDING AND GOING BACK ON THE ATTACK. SO I WOULD FILL THAT VOID VERY VERY QUICKLY. IF IF I WERE THEM. SECONDLY, I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MAKE THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DECISION, AS YOU MAKE YOUR STRATEGIC DECISIONS IT'S REALLY A MATTER OF MATH AS MUCH AS EVER AS ANYTHING ELSE. NATIONAL POLLS ARE IMPORTANT. OBVIOUSLY, IF THE, IF A DEMOCRAT IS TRAILING A REPUBLICAN IN A NATIONAL RACE THAT DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE EITHER. BUT LET'S ASSUME THAT SHE BRIDGES THAT GAP AND CAN AND GET BACK ON ON TOP OF THAT EQUATION YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE STAGE. YOU NEED TO WIN AND GET TO 270 ELECTORAL VOTES. THE PATH FOR JOE BIDEN WAS ALWAYS THROUGH THE NORTHERN INDUSTRIAL STATES OF PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN, AND WISCONSIN I THINK THAT'S STILL THE CASE AND SO THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU FRAME A STRATEGY AND HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A RUNNING MATE WHO WILL HELP YOU WIN THOSE STATES? I MEAN, THAT'S THE OTHER THING I WOULD TELL THEM AND THE THIRD THING I WOULD TELL THEM IS ONE OF THE ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ARE A COUPLE OF THE CHALLENGES FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS THAT HE WASN'T IN A POSITION TO REALLY GO ON THE ATTACK IN A PERSISTENT WAY FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. AND HE AND HIS THEN HIS PARTICULAR STATE AND CONDITION WAS THE FOCUS OF SO MUCH THAT YOU COULDN'T REALLY BRING TRUMP BACK INTO FOCUS. THEY'VE GOT TO QUICKLY BRING TRUMP BACK INTO FOCUS. DONALD TRUMP WAS ENORMOUSLY POPULAR WITHIN THE FOUR PARAMETERS ARE PERIMETERS, I SHOULD SAY OF THAT CONVENTION HALL IN MILWAUKEE LAST WEEK, BUT HE'S NOT A TERRIBLY POPULAR CANDIDATE. AND THERE ARE LOTS OF CONCERNS ABOUT THEM, SOME OF WHICH WERE EXACERBATED BY HIS SPEECH AT THE CONVENTION, WHICH I HAVE DESCRIBED AS A GRIEVANCE SANDWICH WRAPPED IN A UNITY BEEN AND SO I THINK I WOULD I WOULD THINK HARD ABOUT HOW DO I GET BACK? TO HIM. AND TO A VERY ON THE ATTACK, COMPARATIVE CAMPAIGN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. >> SO HARRIS DOES FIND HERSELF IN A LITTLE BIT OF A TRICKY POSITION IN THAT SHE IS NOW EFFECTIVELY THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, BUT SHE IS STILL SERVING AS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S VICE PRESIDENT. >> SO HOW DOES SHE BALANCE? >> WHERE DOES SHE NEED TO DEFINE HERSELF AND MAYBE STAKE OUT A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT POLICY? I'LL SEE POSITION ON THE PRESIDENT OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT SHE CAN'T REALLY DO IN THIS POSITION WHERE WHERE DO YOU THINK IT MIGHT SUIT HER TO STAKE OUT A CLEAR POLICY POSITION? I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE SHE'S VIEWED AS A MUCH BETTER MESSENGER ON ABORTION, WHICH IS A KEY ISSUE FOR THE DEMOCRATS SHE'S TALKED ABOUT ISRAEL'S WAR IN GAZA DIFFERENTLY THAN THE PRESENT THEY DIDN'T HAS WE KNOW FROM HER PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS, SHE SORT OF STRUGGLED TO DEFINE WHERE SHE WAS ON AN ISSUE LIKE HEALTH CARE. SO WHERE DO WHERE DO YOU SEE SORT OF THE KEY AREAS WHERE SHE NEEDS TO DEFINE HERSELF AND MAKE HER POSITIONS CLEARLY KNOWN. >> WELL, LOOK, SHE'S GOING TO COME UNDER ATTACK ON SOME THINGS IMMIGRATION BEING THE FIRST. AND SO HAVING A CLEAR POSITION ON THAT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT YOU KNOW, SHE HAS AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE ON CRIME BECAUSE SHE'S SPENT HER LIFE AS A PROSECUTOR BEFORE SHE CAME TO THE US SENATE I, THINK THAT SHE NEEDS TO TALK ABOUT THE KINDS OF POCKETBOOK ISSUES THAT HAVE MOTIVATED VOTERS. A LOT IN THIS CAMPAIGN AND DO IT ALL IN A PAIR OF FRAME AND DON'T MAKE THIS RACE ALL ABOUT YOURSELF. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE ISSUES AND GO ON THE OFFENSIVE. AND YES, OF COURSE, I'M AN ABORTION RIGHTS, IT'S STILL A HIGHLY MOTIVATIONAL ISSUE. SHE'S SHE IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE ADMINISTRATION SPOKE PER SPOKESPERSON ON THAT, BUT LET ME JUST SAY SOMETHING ABOUT SEPARATING HERSELF OUT. FROM THE PRESIDENT SHE IS THE CANDIDATE PRESIDENT NOW, THIS ISN'T ELECTION ABOUT THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND WELL, I DON'T THINK SHE SHOULD NECESSARILY STAKE OUT PLACES WHERE SHE DISAGREES WITH HIM. SHE NEEDS TO ARTICULATE WHAT SHE BELIEVES AND WHERE SHE WOULD LEAD AND THAT OUGHT TO BE HER PRIORITY. BACK IN 2000, I'M SORRY, 2000. I'M GOING WAY BACK IN HISTORY BEFORE YOU WERE BORN, YASMEEN, BUT I AM OLD ENOUGH I WAS YOUNG WHEN I REMEMBER THE 1968 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, WHEN LYNDON JOHNSON STEPPED DECIDE IT WASN'T CLEAR THAT HUBERT HUMPHREY AS VICE PRESIDENT WOULD BE THE NOMINEE UNTIL THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN AUGUST AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES FOR HIM WAS TO SEPARATE HIMSELF OUT FROM THE PRESIDENT ON THE ISSUE OF VIETNAM AND PERHAPS ON SOME OTHERS AND ULTIMATELY HE HAD, HE DID IT AND HE HAD TO DO IT. AND SO IF THERE ARE PLACES WHERE SHE DISAGREES I WOULDN'T I WOULDN'T WALK AWAY FROM THAT SHE'S RUNNING TO BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. AND PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHERE SHE WOULD LEAD WELL, WE RECEIVED CLOSE TO 500 QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS MANY OF WHICH WERE ABOUT HER POTENTIAL VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICKS SO WE'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF NAMES BEING FLOATED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. >> WE HAVE PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO, NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR ROY I COOPER, KENTUCKY GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR, AND THEN ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY SO WHAT KIND OF CANDIDATE DO YOU THINK WOULD ROUND OUT THE HARRIS TICKET? WHAT SORTS OF QUALITIES MAYBE POLICY POSITIONS GEOGRAPHIC, SHOULD SHE BE LOOKING FOR IN A VICE PRESIDENT. AND DO YOU SEE ANYONE AS THE BEST OPTION? THEN OR SOMEONE WHO'S NOT BEING DISCUSSED, WHO SHOULD BE DISCUSSED LOOK YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE NAMES HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON AND THAT THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WHITE MEN. >> THEY TEND TO BE MORE MODERATE THAN SHE IS PERCEIVED TO BE AND BUT THE QUESTION I THINK THAT SHOULD GUIDE THEM IS WHO MIGHT GIVE THEM THE BEST CHANCE TO CARRY THE STATES THAT THEY NEED TO CARRY AND OF COURSE, GOVERNOR SHAPIRO IS THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA, PENNSYLVANIA IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT STATE IN THIS RACE. >> BOTH CAMPAIGNS VIEW IT AS A TIPPING STATE. WINNING PENNSYLVANIA WOULD BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT IN ADDITION TO THAT, HE'S AN EXCELLENT COMMUNICATOR HE HAS SHOWN AN ABILITY TO REACH BEYOND THE KIND OF COSMOPOLITAN BASE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND INTO RURAL AREAS AND SMALL TOWNS AND PENNSYLVANIA HE'S VERY POPULAR IN THAT STATE HE IS AS ARE AS IS EVERYONE ON THAT LIST, I BELIEVE FRIEND OF THE VICE PRESIDENT, THREE OF THEM HAD SERVED WITH HER AS AN ATTORNEY GENERALS OF THEIR STATE SO I GUESS IT'S ATTORNEYS GENERAL, BUT SO THAT'S THAT'S SHAPIRO. KELLY OFFERS ANOTHER SET OF ASSETS. YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT TO REMARKABLE STORY. FIGHTER PILOT ASTRONAUT OBVIOUSLY THE HUSBAND OF GABBY GIFFORDS AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT TRAGEDY THEY SUFFERED AND HOW THEY TURN TURN TRAGEDY INTO ACTION HE IS A MODERATE KEY AS STRONG POSITIONS ON THE BORDER. HE COMING FROM A BORDER STATE. HE'S AN EXPERT ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND HE IS FROM A BATTLEGROUND STATE AS WELL. >> THAT WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WOULD RECOMMEND HIM GOVERNOR BASHIR, I THINK HAS REALLY CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF A LOT OF AMERICANS. >> SADLY, BECAUSE HIS STATE HAS BEEN BESET BY NATURAL DISASTERS AND SHOOT A SHOOTING THAT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION NATIONALLY AND HIS DEMEANOR AND HIS LEADERSHIP IN THESE MOMENTS OF PRICES AS IT HAS WON HIM A LOT OF FANS AND THE QUESTION IS, THE LEAP FROM THAT? >> TWO THE MIDDLE OF A PRESIDENTIAL RACE IN ITS FINAL THROES. >> AND SECONDLY, WHETHER A CANDIDATE FROM THE SOUTH IS THE BEST CANDIDATE TO HELP CARRY THE INDUSTRIAL NORTH. AND THOSE THREE STATES AND THAT'S SOMETHING THEY WOULD HAVE TO CALCULATE. BUT CLEARLY A A GREAT PRESENCE ON TV, A VERY EARNEST GUY AND PEOPLE WHO, PEOPLE RESPOND POSITIVELY TO IS ONE, A RED STATE TWICE WHICH TELLS YOU SOMETHING ABOUT HIS POLITICAL SKILLS. AND GOVERNOR COOPER HAS THE SAME ASSETS HE'S WON TWICE IN A RED STATE AND IS SORT OF A CENTER LEFT CENTER DEMOCRAT, WHO WOULD BALANCE OR NIGHT OFF NICELY AND YOU LOOK AT NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THAT BASKET OF SORT OF AT LEAST A BATTLEGROUND ADJACENT STATES THAT THE STATES THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE AND HAVING HIM ON THE TICKET MIGHT HELP. BEAR. THE THING IS YOU DON'T WANT TO SACRIFICE THE NORTHERN INDUSTRIAL STATES FOR THAT BECAUSE THE MATH DOESN'T ADD UP TO 70 IS A NUMBER YOU GOTTA KEEP IN YOUR MIND AS YOU MAKE A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS SO JUST SHIFTING TO THE REPUBLICANS FOR A LITTLE BIT THEY RESPONDED TO NEWS OF BIDEN DROPPING OUT BY CALLING FOR HIM TO RESIGN AS PRESIDENT. >> WE'VE HAD THE WORD COUP THROWN AROUND BUT YOU HAVE SOME EXPERTISE ON THAT ANYWAY, GO AHEAD YEAH. >> SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT RICH, BUT WHAT DOES BIDEN DROPPING OUT AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF HARRIS AS THE NOMINEE MEAN FOR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND THEIR STRATEGY. WE KNOW THEY'RE REWORKING IT TO RUN AGAINST HER. BUT HOW DO THEY NEED TO THINK THEIR CAMPAIGN? THERE CRITICISM OF BIDEN THAT CAN REASONABLY BE APPLIED TO HARRIS OR DO THEY NEED TO THROW OUT THE PLAYBOOK AND WRITE AN ENTIRELY NEW ONE YEAH. I MEAN, LOOK, THEY'RE TRYING TO LEAN IN THEIR INITIAL ADVERTISING BY SUGGESTING THAT SHE IS SOMEHOW CULPABLE IN A COVER UP OF HIS TRUE CONDITION. THE TRUTH IS YOU TALK TO ANYBODY WHO DEALS WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF MOMENTS AND TIMES WHEN HE IS FUNCTIONING AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL AND IS MAKING DECISIONS AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL. AND, YOU KNOW, NO ONE IS REALLY DISPUTING THAT SO IT'S KIND OF IT'S, YOU KNOW WOULD SET THAT ASIDE THIS IS A BANK SHOT FOR THEM. I'M SURE THAT THEY WILL PUSH THAT ISSUE. I'M SURE SHE WILL HAVE AN ANSWER SOMEWHAT APPROXIMATING THE ONE I JUST GAVE YOU IN TERMS OF HIM LEAVING OFFICE THAT'S IT'S REALLY SORT OF A RIDICULOUS POSITION BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT RUNNING FOR IF YOU'RE IF YOU'D SAY I'M NOT I'VE DECIDED THAT I SHOULD NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU CAN'T FILL OUT THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING YOU KNOW, THESE ARE SORT OF POLITICAL GAMES AND I'M NOT SURE HOW VOTERS REACT TO ALL OF THAT. AND MY ADVICE TO THEM ABOUT BIDEN IS GET OVER IT YOU BUILT YOUR WHOLE CAMPAIGN AROUND ONE THEME WHICH IS, THE WORLD'S OUT OF CONTROL AND BIDEN'S NOT IN COMMAND AND HE'S WEAK AND TRUMP IS STRONG. WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT RACE ANYMORE. >> YOU MAY WISH YOU HAD IT, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE IT ANYMORE. >> AND SO YOU HAVE TO RECALCULATE AND THINK ABOUT IT AND THEY WILL TRY AND ASSIGN SOME OF THE SOME OF THE ATTACKS THAT THEY'VE HAD ON IMMIGRATION AND CRIME OTHER ISSUES TO HER BUT THEY I THINK SHE'LL BE PREPARED FOR THAT, BUT THAT THEY SHOULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH PAMELA HARRIS. I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WIN BY TRYING TO ASSIGN CONCERNS ABOUT JOE BIDEN'S HEALTH TO HER WELL, WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT, SO I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU QUICKLY. >> THERE WAS A REPORT TODAY THAT SOME TRUMP ADVISERS ARE REGRETTING OR SECOND GUESSING THE CHOICE OF JD VANCE'S AS VICE PRESIDENT. NOW BUT IT'S AN ENTIRELY NEW RACE. I'M CURIOUS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON VANS AND WHETHER HE HELPS TRUMP EXPAND THE MAP AT ALL OR WHAT HE MEANS. NOW THAT WE'VE GOT AN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT RACE AU VANCE WAS A LUXURY. FOR THE REPUBLICANS THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD AFFORD BECAUSE THEY FELT SO CONFIDENT ABOUT THEIR POSITION LAST WEEK. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY KNEW THEY HAD THIS RACE, THEY WOULD HAVE PICKED HIM BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THEY NEED THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELY ON A DEPRESSED DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT IN AN ELEVATED REPUBLICAN TURNOUT TOO. >> WHEN THIS RACE. SO I UNDERSTAND THERE, THEIR MISGIVINGS. HE STARTS WITH BILL BE A VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. I ASSUME, AND WE'LL SEE HOW HE HOLDS UP. YOU KNOW, HE'S A SMART GUY. I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBT ABOUT THAT, BUT HE'S NOT HE HASN'T SHOWN HIMSELF TO BE A GREAT PERFORMER IN HIS COUPLE OF INTERVENTIONS SINCE HE'S BEEN CHOSEN. SO BUT IT'S IT FEELS SO EARLY, IT'S BEEN A WEEK AND THEY ALREADY HAVE BUYER'S REMORSE THAT MAY BE A RECORD IN PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS. >> WELL. WE. ARE UNFORTUNATELY OUT OF TIME, BUT THIS WAS A FASCINATING CONVERSATION. I'M SO GLAD WE HAD YOU HERE TODAY. SO DAVID AXELROD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. >> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU. THANK YOU. >> AND THANK YOU FOR MORE CONTENT LIKE THIS. YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR A WASHINGTON POST SUBSCRIPTION VISIT. WASHINGTON WASHINGTONPOST.COM/LIVE FOR FREE TRIAL. I'M JUST ME AND I