well. and millions of americans are living that struggle, as we speak. especially in this moment of crisis. especially with so many jobs lost. kamala and i both know that all folks are looking for, as my dad would say, is an even shot. just give me a shot, a fair shot. a shot at making it. and it will be the work of all our administration to make sure they get a fair shot. working families need someone on their side in this nation. because they certainly don't have anyone in the president now on their side. ask that's going to change in a biden/harris administration. it's going to be gratifying to see the strong, enthusiastic reaction to senator harris as our next vice president. you know, it comes from people all over the country, it's

already occurring, all over the country, all ideological views, all backgrounds. events, of course, we have predictable, some of them. it comes from all over, exception, of course, from donald trump's white house and his allies. you all knew it was coming. you could have set your watches to it. donald trump has already started his attacks, calling kamala, quote, nasty. whining about how she's, quote, mean to his appointees. it's no surprise, because whining is what donald trump does best. better than any president in american history. is anyone surprised donald trump has a problem with a strong woman or strong women across the board? we know that more is to come. but let's be clear. if you're a working person, worried about whether or not

you'll have a job to go to, whether or not you'll be able to pay your mortgage, pay your rent, worried about the poison in the air you breathe, the water you drink, worried about your civil rights, even your basic right to dignity, which is under attack with this administration, kamala harris has had your back and now we have to have her back. she's going to stand with me in this campaign and all of us are going to stand up for her. on january 20th, 2021, we're all going to watch senator harris raise her right hand and swear the oath of office as the first woman ever to serve in the second-highest office in america, in this land. and then we're going to get to work, fixing the mess that donald trump and vice president pence have created, both at home and abroad.

through four years of mismanagement and coddling of terrorists and thugs around the world. not only will america dig itself out of this hole they put us in, we're going to build, we're going to build back and we're going to build back better. we have a public health crisis. while he's in court trying to do away with health care. with more than 5 million reported infections, 165,000 people dead and climbing as a consequence of covid-19, and still, months later, no real leadership or plan from the president of the united states how to get this pandemic under control. no real help for the states and local governments trying to fill the vacuum of leadership from the white house. no real help for children and educators, for small businesses and front line workers that are

the ones holding our country together. instead, he's issuing executive orders and making promises that, in the end, will defund the social security system while insisting that this virus will disappear. the joe biden and kamala harris administration will have a comprehensive plan to meet the challenge of covid-19 and turn the corner on this pandemic. masking, clear science-based guidance, dramatically scaling up testing, getting states and local governments the resources they need to open the schools and businesses safely. we can do this. we just need a president and a vice president willing to lead and take responsibility. not as this president says, it's not my fault. the government -- the governors

should thank me more. stf as an old saying goes, give me a break. we have an economic crisis. with more than 16 million americans -- 16 million -- still out of work. donald trump is on track to break another record. on track to leave office with the worst jobs record of any american president in modern history. but instead of doing the hard work, and meeting face-to-face with congressional leaders, democrats and the republicans in the white house, like every other president has done in a crisis, to get americans the relief they need and deserve, donald trump is on the golf course. if i told you this three years ago, you look at me like i was being crazy. he hasn't even met with the leadership.

he doesn't have time, it appears. we have a climate crisis. and donald trump refuses to even acknowledge it. when he thinks about climate change, all we hear is the word hoax. biden/harris administration is going to meet the climate crisis. protect the health of the american public. and along the way, we're going to deliver one word -- jobs. good paying jobs. we have a racial justice crisis. donald trump seeks only to enflame it with his politics sd racist rhetoric and appeals to division. ch t you know, today's not only the day i'm proud to introduce kamala harris as the vice presidential nominee of the democratic party. it is also the third anniversary

of that terrible day in charlottesville. remember? remember what i felt like to see those neo-nazis, close your eyes, and close clklansmen, whi supremacists, comipouring into streets of an historic american city. remember how it felt to see a violent clash ensue between those celebrating hate and those standing against it? it was a wakeup call for all of us as a country. for me, it was a call to action. i father used to say, silence is complicity, not original to him, but he believed it. at that moment, i knew i

couldn't stand by and let donald trump, a man who went on to say he thought there were very fine people on both sides. quote, very fine people on both sides. no president of the united states of america has ever said anything like that. to see him continue to attack everything that makes america america. i knew we were in the battle for the soul of the nation, that's when i decided to run. and i'm proud now to have senator harris at my side in that battle, because she shares with the same intensity i do. for she's someone who knows what's at stake. the question is, for all americans to answer, who are we as a nation? what do we stand for? and most importantly, what do we want to be? you know, someone who knows that

the future of this country is limited only by the barriers we place on our own imaginations, because there's nothing americans cannot achieve when we put our minds to it, when we do it together. one of the reasons i chose kamala is because we both believe that we can define america simply in one word -- possibilities. possibilities. let me say it again -- possibilities. that's america. that's what sets this nation apart. to everyone, everyone, the ability for everyone, and we mean everyone, to go as far and dream as big as hard work and their god-given ability will take them. when i grew to serve as president obama's running mate,

he asked me a number of questions, as i've asked kamala, but the most important one, he said to me, what -- he asked me what i wanted, most importantly. i told him i wanted to be the last person in the room before he made the important decisions. that's what i asked kamala. i asked kamala to be the last voice in the room. to always tell me the truth, and she will. challenge my assumptions if she disagrees. ask the hard questions. because that's the way we make the best decisions for the american people. i got a chance to spend some time in my home today with kamala and doug and i want to thank them, i thanked them then, i want to thank them publicly, for agreeing to join and take this journey with jill and me. doug -- you're going to have to learn what it means to be a

barrier breaker yourself in this job you're about to take on. america's first second gentleman. and although they are not here with us today, i want to thank elle and cole, as well. i had a chance to speak to doug's mom and dad and to ella and cole and we're going to get our kids together to let them know what's coming. my grandchildren are about the age of their children. got to speak to them. my campaign has always been a family affair, every campaign i've run. so, i've got some news for you, you're all honorary bidens. and here's the best part. kamala, you've been an honorary biden for quite some time. you know, i came first to know who kamala was through our son,

beau biden. they were friends. they served as attorneys general at the same time. they took the same big -- they took on the same big fights together. kamala in california, beau here in delaware. big fights that helped change the entire country. i know how much beau respected kamala and her work, and that mattered a lot to me, to be honest with you, as i made this decision. so, now we need to get to work. pulling this nation out of these crises we find ourselves in. getting our economy back on track. uniting this nation. and, yes, winning the battle for the soul of america. my fellow americans, let me introduce to you, for the first time, your next vice president of the united states, kamala harris. kamala? the floor is yours.

>> thank you, joe. thank you, joe. as i said, joe, when you called me, i am incredibly honored by this responsibility and i'm ready to get to work. i am ready to get to work. after the most competitive primary in history, the country received a resounding message that joe was the person to lead us forward. and joe, i'm so proud to stand with you. and i do so mindful of all the heroic and ambitious women before me. whose sacrifice, determination and resilience makes my presence here today even possible. this is a moment of real consequence for america.

everything we care about, our economy, our health, our children, the kind of country we live in, it's all on the line. we're reeling from the worst public health crisis in a century. the president's mismanagement of the pandemic has plunged us into the worst economic crisis since the great depression. and we're experiencing a moral reckoning with racism and systemic injustice that has brought a new coalition of conscience to the streets of our country, demanding change. america is crying out for leadersh leadership. yet we have a president who cares more about himself than the people who elected him. a president who is making every

challenge we face even more difficult to solve. but here's the good news. we don't have to accept the failed government of donald trump and mike pence. in just 83 days, we have a chance to choose a better future for our country. so, joe, dr. biden, thank you for the trust you've placed in me. jill, i know you will be an incredible first lady and my husband doug and i are so grateful, grateful, to become apart of your extended family. and ever since i received joe's call, i've been thinking, yes, about the first biden that i really came to know and that, of course, is joe's beloved son, one of his beloved sons, beau.

in the midst of the great recession, beau and i spoke on the phone practically every day. sometimes multiple times a day. working together to win back billions of dollars for homeowners from the big banks of the nation that were foreclosing on people's homes. and let me just tell you about beau biden. i learned quickly that beau was the kind of guy who inspired people to be a better version of themselves. he really was the best of us. and when i would ask him, where did you get that, where did this come from? he would always talk about his dad. and i will tell you, the love that they shared was incredible to watch. it was the most beautiful display of the love between a

father and a son. and beau talked about how joe would spend four hours every day riding the rails back and forth from wilmington to washington so he could make breakfast for his kids in the morning and make it home in time to tuck them in bed each night. all of this so two little boys who had just lost their mom and their sister in a tragic accident would know that the world was still turning. and that's how i came to know joe. he's someone whose first response when things get tough is never to think about himself but to care for everyone else. he's someone who never asks, why is this happening to me? and instead asks, what can i do to make life better for you? his empathy, his compassion, his

sense of duty to care for others is why i am so proud to be hon this ticket. and joe and i, yes, we are cut from the same cloth. family is everything to me, too. and i cannot wait for america to get to know my husband doug and our amazing kids cole and ella. whether i'm cheering in the bleachers at a swim meet or setting up a college room dorm or building legos with my godson or hugging my two baby nieces or cooking dinner, sunday dinner, my family means everything to me. and i've had a lot of titles over my career and certainly, vice president will be great but momala will always be the one that means the most. and, you know, my mother and

father, they came from opposite sides of the world. to arrive in america. one from india and the other from jamaica. in search of a world class education. but what brought them together was the civil rights movement of the 1960s. and that's how they met, as students in the streets of oakland marching and shouting for this thing called justice in a struggle that continues today. and i was part of it. my parents would bring me to protests, strapped tightly in my stroller. and my mother, shamala raised my sister maya and me to believe that it was up to us and every generation of americans, to keep on marching. she would tell us, don't sit around and complain about things, do something. so, i did something. i devoted my life to making real

the words carved in the united states supreme court, equal justice under law. and 30 years ago, i stood before a judge for the first time, breathed deep and uttered the phrase that would -- that would truly guide my career and the rest of my career. kamala harris, for the people. the people that's who i represented as district attorney, fighting on behalf of victims who needed help. the people. that's who i fought for as california's attorney general. when i took on transnational criminal organization who traffic in guns and drugs and human beings. and it's the people who i have fought for as a united states senator, where i've worked every day to hold trump officials accountable to the american people. and the people are who joe and i will fight for every day in the white house.

and let me tell you, somebody who has presented my fair share of arguments in court, the case against donald trump and mike pence is open and shut. just look where they've gotten us. more than 16 million out of work. millions of kids who cannot go back to school. a crisis of poverty, of homelessness afflicting black, brown and indigenous people the most. a crisis of hunger afflicting 1 in 5 mothers who have children that are hungry. and tragically, more than 165,000 lives that have been cut short. many with loved ones who never got the chance to say good-bye. it didn't have to be this way. six years ago, in fact, we had a different health crisis. it was called ebola.

and we all remember that pandemic. but you know what happened then? barack obama and joe biden did their job. only two people in the united states died. two. that is what's called leadership. but compare that to the moment we find ourselves in now. when other countries are following the science, trump pushed miracle cures he saw on fox news. while other countries were flattening the curve, he said the virus would just, poof, go away. quote, like a miracle. so, when other countries opened back up for business, what did we do? we had to shut down again. this virus has impacted almost every country. but there's a reason it has hit

america worse than any other advanced nation. it's because of trump's failure to take it seriously from the start. his refusal to get testing up and running. his flip-flopping on social distancing and wearing masks. his delusional belief that he knows better than the experts. all of that is reason and the reason that an american dies of covid-19 every 80 seconds. it's why countless businesses have had to shut their doors for good. it's why there is complete chaos over when and how to reopen our schools. mothers and fathers are confused and uncertain and angry about child care and the safety of their kids at school. whether they'll be in danger if they go or fall behind if they

don't. trump is also the reason millions of americans are now unemployed. he inherited the longest economic expansion in history from barack obama and joe biden. and then, like everything else he inherited, he ran it straight into the ground. because of trump's failures of leadership, our economy has taken one of the biggest hits out of all the major industrialized nations with an unemployment rate that has tripled as of today. this is what happens when we elect a guy who just isn't up for the job. is the our country ends up in tatters. and so does our reputation around the world. but let's be clear. this election isn't just about

defeating donald trump or mike pence. it's about building this country back better. and that's exactly what joe and i will do. we'll create millions of jobs and fight climate change through a clean energy revolution. bring back critical supply chains so the future is made in america. build on the affordable care act so everyone has the peace of mind that comes with health insurance. and finally, offer caregivers the dignity, the respect and the pay they deserve. we'll protect a woman's right to make her own decisions about her own body. root out systemic racism in our justice system. and pass a new voting rights t act. a john lewis voting rights act that will ensure every voice is heard and every voice is

counted. the civil rights struggle is nothing new to joe. it's why he got into public service. it's why he helped reauthorize the voeting rights act and today, he takes his place in the ongoing story of america's march toward equality and justice as only -- as the only -- as the only who has served alongside the first black president and has chosen the first black woman as his running mate. but as joe always points out, this election is about more than politics. it's about who we are as a country. and i'll admit, over the past four years, there have been moments when i have truly worried about our future. but whenever i think that there is a reason for doubt, whenever i've had my own doubts, i think

of you, the american people, the doctors and nurses and front line workers who are risking your lives to save others. the truck drivers and the workers in grocery stores, in factories, in farms, working there, putting your own safety on the line to help us get through this pandemic. the women and students taking to the streets in unprecedented numbers, the dreamers and immigrants who know that families belong together, the lgbtq americans who know that love is love, people of every age and color and creed who are finally declaring in one voice that, yes, black lives matter. all across this country, a whole new generation of children is growing up hearing the cries for justice and the chants of hope on which i was raised.

some strapped into strollers of their own. and trust me, it's a song you'll never forget. so, to everyone keeping up the fight, you are doing something. you are doing something great. you are the heroes of our time. and you are the reason i know we are going to bring our country closer to realizing its great promise. but to do it, we'll need to work, organize and vote like never before, because we need more than a victory on november 3rd. we need a mandate that proves that the past few years do not represent who we are or who we aspire to be. joe likes to say that character is on the ballot, and it's true. when he saw what happened in charlottesville three years ago today, he knew we were in a battle for the soul of our nation. and together, with your help, that's a battle we will win.

earlier this year, i said i'd do whatever joe asked me to do, and so now, i'm asking you to do the same. so, visit joebiden.com to get involved in this campaign and vote, because electing joe biden is just the start of the work ahead of us. and i couldn't be prouder to be by his side running to represent you, the people. thank you and may god bless the united states of america. thank you. >> well, there you have it. in some ways, this felt like also the messaging kickoff for the general election, if you will, with biden and harris there. it is -- oh, here we go. let's at least live in this moment for a second.

there are the two spouses, jill biden and the next, perhaps the first second gentleman there, with kamala harris. so -- but the closest you're going to get to this moment that we normally are used to and you might see all these families coming together and all that mingling, all that, but welcome to 2020 and the social lis distanced unveiling of a major presidential ticket. welcome to another very busy afternoon. it is officially "meet the press daily." i'm chuck todd. we've been watching joe biden and kamala harris make their debut at the democratic presidential ticket in person for the first time, just 24 hours after senator harris made history as the first woman of color picked as the vice presidential nominee. it was a v.p. rollout unlike anything we've seen in modern american politics, taking place before virtually an empty room. it was uncomfortable not to hear applause, right? good luck next week with the conventions, as we're viewing all of that, due to the

coronavirus pandemic. it's obviously paralyzed much of the country, crippled our economy and upended this election and let's forget, killed 166,000 people in this country. and the pandemic was, arguably, at the heart of both of their speeches including biden's introduction to senator harris. >> the joe biden and kamala harris administration will have a comprehensive plan to meet the challenge of covid-19 and turn the corner on this pandemic. masking, clear science-based guidance, dramatically scaling up testing, getting states and local governments the resources they need to open the schools and businesses safely. we can do this. we just need a president and a vice president willing to lead and take responsibility. not, as this president says,

it's not my fault. the governors should thank me more. as an old saying goes, give me a break. >> biden introduced senator harris with a list of crises this country faces under president trump. the pandemic, which, of course, also means the economic crisis we're facing, the climate crisis and, of course, a racial justice crisis. and harris in her remarks echoed those crises where she praised biden and his family and then criticized the president and, like, biden, she reserved some of her sharpest critiques over the president's handling of the crisis. >> it didn't have to be this way. six years ago, in fact, we had a different health crisis. it was called ebola. and we all remember that pandemic. but you know what happened then? barack obama and joe biden did their job. only two people in the united states died.

two. that is what's called leadership. but compare that to the moment we find ourselves in now. >> before we dive into what we just heard we should note that we are expecting to hear from the president himself in a few moments from now at his near daily 5:30 p.m. press conference that is on the virus, which he's used as a platform at times to push campaign-style messages, going after political opponents, but right now, his team's messaging and reaction to the harris pick is muddled and contradictory, which beal have more on in a moment, as well. but let's digest this moment that we just witnessed. we've got mike thmemoli with us. also with us, nira tanden and mandela barnes, wisconsin's lieutenant governor. i appreciate that you agreed to reschedule our interview and come in response to what we just saw, but mike, set the table for

us in delaware. after a little bit of a power outage, you guys had some real weather there. that looked like a very -- that looked like two people very happy to be running together. it felt like a -- you could see the genuine warmth between the two of them. >> yeah, that's absolutely right, chuck. one of the questions we kept asking throughout this whole vice presidential search process, even as the betting favorite for the choice was always kamala harris, it was what we thought heading into it, it was what we thought even heading into the campaign before both of them had announced their candidacies, but it was this question of whether or not they could be trusted partners together in the white house, that debate clash. we probably spent too much time, according to the campaign, but the personal chemistry between those two was still something that the campaign insisted was real, that biden, of course, said there was no grudges on his part and very clearly, of course, in the articulation from

both of them about the relationship that sprung from beau biden is very real there. i was struck, though, chuck, watching this by two things. the silence and the history. the silence, this is never going to be norm am, right? i've been covering joe biden in this odd pandemic campaign for a few months now, but hearing him hand the baton to kamala harris and introducing her as the next vice president of the united states and having no crowd reaction is just one of those moments that it feels surreal and to see them at the end standing socially distant is quite unusual. but the history, i'm especially struck by in this moment. joe biden used his remarks to talk about having kamala harris' back. now, this is almost a reversal of what we usually would see on a presidential ticket. it's the vice presidential nominee who talks about, let's have the presidential nominee's back. they're supposed to be the supporting player, but when you think back to this primary and why joe biden won the nomination, it's because of that support that remained constant

and grew, of course, over time from african-american. and i would be on the campaign trail following joe biden and asked black voters why they continued to support joe biden, despite even having african-american candidates in the race, one of the most common answers was, he had barack obama's back for eight years. interesting to hear him say now that in this campaign they have to have kamala harris' back. and it's another note of history. in 2 0008, of course, joe biden was facing off in a debate against a woman vice presidential candidate. i was on the plane with him every day of that vice presidential campaign and for the first month, every day, joe biden was asked in some form about how he would confront sarah palin in the debate and the obvious questions about whether a male candidate and the potential pitfalls of facing a woman candidate. joe biden knows this dynamic very well and that was something he clearly leaned into in his remarks. they clearly feel this is something that can galvanize voters and he wants to make sure

that that point is clear, chuck. and then, i think, the larger point of history here, as well,soming that hadn't occurred to me but perhaps should have, joe biden saying since day one, this is a battle for the soul of america and charlottesville was the moment that called him into the race, today joe biden announcing a woman of color joining him on the ticket on the anniversary, of course, of those violent clashes we saw in charlottesville three years ago. >> all excellent points there, mike. really appreciate it. nira, i was -- it really suddenly, you know, is one of those, as you're listening to both speeches, you realize, wait a minute, of course, we just sbroed a new phase, this is the general election message rollout, right? we've seen it in the tv ads, but we hadn't seen it framed in remarks like this and yes, we have the introductory stuff and the family and the personal stuff, but i don't we should let get lost, it's just sort of -- i think we know what the general election message is, which is -- this virus is out of control,

they're not doing anything about it, elect us, we're going to do something about it. >> yeah, i think, actually, what was astonishing, one of the arguments for kamala throughout this process is that she's a prosecutor. she makes -- she's very effective at making the case. and she was a great prosecutor and advocate. so, she's prosecuting the case against donald trump and mike pence with a very detailed argument about his failure of leadership and how it has led to the economic crash and the pain and misery of 160,000 deaths and also, making the -- being a good advocate. making the case for joe biden. i mean, we are heard the ebola argument, the argument, the contrast of how he handled ebola and donald trump is handling the coronavirus is very stark. and in this moment where we have a coronavirus pandemic that is so deeply damaging, having someone who can make the

argument, who can get the attention around these arguments in this moment is really helpful, and you see the essential framing around leadership and who is on your side. they both also discussed their biographies and how their biographies make clear -- and their records make clear that they're on your side. >> mandela barnes, lieutenant governor of wisconsin, one of the reasons i wanted to talk to you, let's get down to brass tacks here, this is about -- is this enough to win wisconsin? is this enough to excite democratic voters in wisconsin? what say you? >> i'll say yes. mainly because the inspiration that was delivered by both people on stage. joe biden gave an inspirational message, but kamala's message was inspirational on multiple levels. given the fact that so many young people, especially women

of color, who have grown up without seeing themselves reflected in the highest offices or may not have thought there would ever been an opportunity for them to achieve such a level, they can see this clearly on stage. and you mentioned joe biden mentioning that he has kamala's back and i think that's important to note, because that shows the type of leadership that joe biden is willing to deliver to the american people. you look at the voweler inability of women in politics, especially women of color, for him to step up as a white man and say, i have her back, shows a whole lot. it's an inspiration that many people across this country have been looking for, what people need, what people desire and the sort of inspiration that we saw is going to lead to enthusiasm in november and i am going to do everything that i can do here in the state of wisconsin and running mates matter. that's another point that i wanted to mention. a lot of people say the running mate is not important, well, generally, it's not, but it can be. it can be make or break and i think that this is a decision that will ultimately get the

biden campaign the dues it needs to be successful in november. >> one could argue that biden and harris come essentially from the mainstream of the democratic party, whatever you want to call that, or the middle of the democratic party, when i say the middle, not the middle of the american electorate, but the middle of the democratic party, maybe kamala harris a little closer to the progressive side, but that is subjective. mr. lieutenant governor, do you think progressives in madison will somehow wfind ways to pick this ticket apart or is the p pandemic so all-encompassing that some of the biggest progressive activists, and you know who i'm talking about in madison, that crowd, they realize, you know, we're in -- this is a different time, this is not the time to pick intramural fights. >> you could be speaking about me, quite honestly. i think about my life and activi activism, i'm a working families party candidate, so i think it's

important to know that regardless of what party, you know, democrats make us proud and sometimes we've been let down by democrats before, but it's more important, especially in this sort of moment, with coronavirus, with the uprising and the protests and demands for racial justice, that people are held accountable regardless. and that includes our friends. and i don't -- i'm not going to sit here and say they're going to get everything right, i'm not saying they're going to be perfect on everything, but i am excited that we have a ticket that is ready to listen to the american people and there has been a shift from the primary up until today where where some issues, they may have not stood firmly for, they are -- they have been -- they have shown that they are willing to be amenable to the desires of the progressive wing of the party, and that's something we should be proud of. and people are smart enough and people have dealt with the last 3 1/2 years of total disaster of the trump presidency, and realize that, you know, we can continue to go in that direction, which is going to lead to disaster, which will

completely obliterate the middle class in america, or we can move forward, we can go in the right direction and put on some pressure, you know, with the biden and harris administration, that has already demonstrated a willingness and desire to move with the american people when it comes to health care, when it comes to education, when it comes to the environment, especially. >> neera, four years ago at this time, the clinton/kaine ticket was continuing to have to put out some uprisings from the progressive movement. there were some hurt feelings, obviously from that campaign. it is remarkable, i think, how little there, you know, as much as i think there are plenty of reporters and plenty of people maybe looking for these splits, i think the biden campaign's done a pretty good job, it seems like, at massaging whatever hurt feelings there may be on the left. >> absolutely. and i think you see that in the

voting. 96%, 95% of bernie sanders supporters are planning to vote for joe biden, higher than four years ago. i do want to call out that that is a testament also of senator sanders. i think overall, everyone in the party recognizes that it is an existential threat if donald trump is re-elected. it's not just the pandemic. it's racial justice issues, it's division, it's essentially -- we've talked about this before, i mean, the daily assault on core progressive values emanating from this president and a real deep concern that the country will be forever changed if he is re-elected. iunifying the party. four years ago, he was a possibility. now, he is raeeal. that's really united a party in a way that we didn't see as much

four years ago because it wasn't as real. i think that's been a lot of work. the biden campaign has done a fantastic job organizing people, reaching out, respecting the full amount of candidates that ran against him, trying to bring them all into their campaign, but working directly with senator sanders and a lot of taking ideas from senator warren and a whole range of voices. >> before -- i hope the three of you stick around. very quickly, mike, before i bring in a couple more folks to add to this conversation, we heard -- we heard the vice president hint at their big fund-raising accomplishment over the last 24 hours. i was curious of that. i know they wanted to put a lot of effort into this. do you have any numbers that can be put on this yet? >> well, i was told yesterday, chuck, that they gained hundreds of thousands in terms of new subscribers to their various lists. we haven't gotten a specific number in terms of how much they've raised off this.

i know the campaign will be eager to share that, but this is a rollout, chuck. they're going to be parcelling out some of these data points over the next few days to try to put forward why this was a successful pick for them, of course. >> all right. let me -- let me bring in a couple more of my nbc colleagues here into this conversation. first, we should note that the trump campaign's reaction to the harris pick has been muddled and at times contradictory. the campaign is attacking her at too liberal, they call her the most radical, far-left vice presidential nominee in u.s. history. a puppet of the far left. the rnc is trying to paint her as not liberal enough, claiming liberals are revolting against the pick. the rnc is attacking harris as being in lock-step with biden, but the trump campaign is pushing a contra districtry narrative that her raw ambition is going to throw biden off a cliff. meanwhile, the trump campaign is accusing harris of turning her back on the black community. they claim she goes against everything black americans are screaming about today. but others working with the

campaign are attacking her as being too sympathetic to black activists, noting she's marched in the streets with the black lives matter organization. president trump is using talking points that he would have likely used against any democrat. point is, the muddled and generic response signal they were unprepared for biden to pick harris, who was seen as many by the safe and conventional choice for months, or they were hoping that he'd make a mistake in their minds and pick someone else. so, let's bring in a couple of folks that know a thing or two about this, we've got monica alba and kasie hunt. let's start with you, monica. i've seen it again, i guess they're trying -- i saw that they want to say, hey, she's the most liberal senator, so, i saw another attempt there. they seem to be all over the map. is she too liberal or is she not progressive enough? >> they really can't seem to come to a coherence or cohesive strategy on this, chuck. they've tried out these dozens

of lines of attack against her and the president is going to be having a news conference very shortly here where he will probably add to that pile and continue to add confusion to it, but what really stood out to me there in that event with senator harris that she is now testing out her biggest speeches and lines that are going to be at the centerpoint attacking the president on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. and from every point what we've seen here from republicans, they're not attacking the biden/harris ticket on anything when it comes to that, they're trying to paint her as too far radical or as too far left or anti-police and pro-police, but i think what's really going to get under the president's skin here is what the senator just said there in delaware appearing for the first time with her running mate, joe biden, and what we also saw from the president was sort of a confusion. he seemed to default to his more comfortable approach and tactic, hitting her in a sexist way, calling her nasty several times and that's something you heard joe biden call out specifically,

saying, is there anything that bothers the president more than strong women? that is something that we can hear the president react to, but it's clear the campaign held another press call today, trying to clear up a press call they had last night that offered completely contradictory messaging on kamala harris. they haven't settled on something and even trump allies and those advisers close to the president are now alarmed and concerned that if that doesn't become more streamlin ed, it's only going to widen the gap of an already troubling poll in terms of the president and how he's doing in the battleground states. we just learned today, the president is going to try to get where he's comfortable, which is on the campaign trail. he's going to hit the road next week, hitting four battleground states to try to offer counterprogramming to the democratic national convention. not usual campaign rallies, but he is going to be traveling to wisconsin, minnesota, arizona and scranton, pennsylvania, next thursday, trying to taunt joe biden on his own home turf next

week, we're learning from campaign officials, chuck. >> very interesting and thanks for those updates and nuggets there, monica. kasie, one thing that the former vice president did in his remarks is, he tried to remarkse the current stalemate taking place between the white house and speaker pelosi, and that, you know, this has been one of the, you know, i'll sure there are some on capitol hill who think, okay. they're happy with the rollout of the running mate but it has taken away public pressure to get these folks to meet. i assume speaker pelosi is happy to have joe throwing his rhetoric into the let's have a negotiation conversation. >> i'm sure, chuck. and joe biden is uniquely positioned to be the one who can

attack the president for not showing up to these negotiations. let's not forget that biden loves the senate. he was there for so much of his political career. and i have no doubt that he fully understands the dynamic on capitol hill. for the most part, everybody wants the president to stay out of it. every time he sticks his toe in it, everything has the tendency to blow up. they negotiate with officials, they make sure the president, whatever hard feelings there may be, issues are very carefully taken care of before they say anything in public. the reality has been that the president has been completely uninvolved with these negotiations. that's why. while they were negotiating over the weekend, everybody was out playing golf. that's the faktss of the matter.

today there has been another round of back and forwards. there is now a dispute over who that what on the phone call that they had. mnuchin calling pelosi, saying they would not agree to say that they would compromise. mnuchin saying, no, pelosi said she wouldn't compromise. so the upshot is there are millions of americans waiting for this relief. and congress is basically fulfilling the worst of what americans to think about congress. and there has been no action the last couple days. the hallways have been empty. typically august is a dead zone here. but there are people waiting for these checks who are watching minute by minute to see if anything will happen. and you know, the former vice president, the democratic presidential nomination underscores the broader contours of this in a way that helps democrats get it out of those back and forth weeds that can be

troublesome politically. >> i'll be very curious to see. i think they were effective at poking trump personally. i thought you pointed out, there is no doubt the president will get defensive over the weekend. he'll get defensive at these hits on his attacks. i want to bring one more person into this conversation. we've had an interesting shortened show here. the president of howard university, he happens to be an md. dr. wayne a.i. frederick. and you were booked today because we were going to talk a lot about the virus. but i would like you to sort of, this is a huge moment for howard university. a huge moment for hbcu. i assume around this country. kamala harris, howard alumni, potentially the next vice president of the united states.

your reaction today as president of this as president of howard university. >> absolutely exhilarating. i'm a triple alum myself. and you would think that somebody that walks the same halls as current students, and the same halls that i did, to be sent to this position of opportunity is remarkable. specially at this time in the nation's history, i want to underscore that for all the labels that she's being given. i hope we will focus on how well prepared she is, her intellect, her experience and her track record of what she has done her poise is incredible. i had the opportunity to speak to her on monday. she's become a good friend. she's part of the committee that selected me as president. and as i've come to know her, just as my conversation on monday revealed, you cannot have

a more down to earth, humble person who can relate to so many americans today who are different stations of life. so we are extremely proud. there are many who have paved the way, elijah cummings, so many howard alums that have paved the way for this and she will now pave the way for so many others. >> there was a poll coming out over the last 24 hours, the marquette poll, the poll that everybody looks to in wisconsin about where's the race. and it was closer than we've seen. i believe it was a 4-point race, as close as we've seen it in some time. what is the lay of the land in wisconsin? how tight does it feel? is this the most divided state where it is all about turnout, turnout, turnout?

>> these things will ebb and flow. we were leading in 2016 and we didn't win in 2016. we can't pay too much attention to the polls regardless of how it has been in reason elections. we have always acted like this thing is 50/50. even when biden was up 8 points. we understand the urgency of the moment. we understand how quick will you it can change. now that a running mate has been announced, now that the ticket is officially set. i would like to see the new numbers that come out look like. even if we are up 10 points, we're still going about this thing like we're 50/50. we have to organize everywhere. digitally. making the phone calls, doing the texting program. and it is the point when people take it for granted is when you lose. and wisconsin is too valuable a state for us to ever get

comfortable. >> what do you hope to see on the ground at the convention next week? we know there is only a limited amount of events. do you believe the convention can be an important organizing moment sill reply in the city of milwaukee? >> i think it absolutely will be. people were looking for a big celebration, all the pomp and circumstance, myself included. the reason we can't is the abdication of leadership from the white house. because the president did not respond to covid-19 appropriately. not only is our convention going to be limited. other celebrations that people were looking forward to during the summer. as the season winds down, people grow even more frustrated. whether it is the social constraints or the economic constraints or lack of access to health care. people will be thinking about that. and the speaker's convention, they will be highlighting the

failures of this administration and why we haven't been able to return to life as normal. this is not a happy time right now. people are not generally excited about a whole lot at all. so i think that it fits perfectly with this. and people will leave the convention. people will log off from their screens, their computer mobile devices understanding the challenges ahead but also realizing there is a path to better that exists. and we look forward to vice president joe biden outlining that. we look forward to senator kamala harris outlining that. a plan that will take us forward. >> did we get a preview of what every night of the convention will look like? you had different ways, you heard it from biden today, you heard it from harris today. the convention will be about,

about trump and his handling of these crises? >> i think the convention will be about leadership and it will be both an indictment of donald trump's leadership but also the arguments for joe biden's leadership. i think kamala harris is a great wing woman. she can effectively make the case for joe biden. this is a really important aspect of the convention. that it is an opportunity for people to see the story of joe biden, why he can handle the pandemic and the economy and why he will handle it better. and making the very obvious argument that actually, handling the pandemic is how we get our economy moving again. i look forward to seeing how trump comes up with a different kind of response today from the

very different responses he's had. i think one of the issues with kamala, she's been an effective prosecutor. she was an effective prosecutor over the case against kavanaugh, judge kavanaugh at the time now, justice kavanaugh. he didn't know what was coming and he was very off kilter. i think in the last 24 hours, we've seen the republicans have gotten off killer and i think trump may be off kilter for a while. >> it's really interesting. it feels like, the first time i've seen a pick do this on the democratic side, i would argue, maybe joe lieberman gave a good 24, 48-hour jolt to al gore. this is an interesting jolt this campaign has been given. biden was already ahead. i appreciate all of your time. thank you all. i wish i had more time. that's all we have for tonight. we'll be back tomorrow with more