NEW ORLEANS (AP) — As President Joe Biden tries to revive his embattled reelection bid, Vice President Kamala Harris led a parade of Black Democrats who warned Saturday that the specter of one other Donald Trump presidency stays an important calculation forward of November.

But in additional than 20 minutes on stage on the Essence Competition of Tradition, Harris didn’t acknowledge Biden’s dismal debate efficiency or requires the 81-year-old president to finish his reelection bid. Actually, she barely talked about Biden in any respect – a stark distinction to the Congressional Black Caucus members who forcefully and repeatedly defended the president by title.

“That is in all probability essentially the most important election of our lifetime,” Harris mentioned, earlier than riffing on Trump musing about being a dictator, pushing the Supreme Courtroom rightward and promising retribution on political enemies. “In 122 days, we every have the ability to resolve what sort of nation we wish to stay in.”

Harris’s look on the nation’s largest annual celebration of Black tradition underscores what a troublesome job it’s for the White Home and marketing campaign to navigate questions in regards to the president’s aptitude. The dynamics are particularly fraught for Harris, the primary Black girl and particular person of south Asian descent to be elected vp, and for the Black Democrats who have been so instrumental in electing Biden and her in 2020.

On one hand, Harris fills the normal position of loyal lieutenant, a job she did enthusiastically — and on the fly — in tv appearances instantly after Biden’s lackluster debate ended. But ought to Biden in the end resolve to step apart as presumptive nominee, she could be among the many favorites, if not the favourite, to hold the Democratic banner in opposition to Trump.

Black leaders and voters who gathered in New Orleans, in the meantime, walked the road Saturday between backing Biden and insisting that, if he does finish his marketing campaign, the get together ought to elevate the barrier-breaking vp fairly than contemplate governors like Gavin Newsom of California or Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, each of whom are white.

“The aim of a vp is to be a No. 2, to have the ability to step in,” mentioned Glynda Carr, who leads the Larger Heights political motion group that works to elect extra Black girls. “If this was an all-white male ticket, would we be speaking about different individuals who have much less expertise, much less {qualifications}?”

Antjuan Seawright, a Black Democratic advisor who’s near Home Rep. Jim Clyburn, a Biden ally, put it extra plainly. “Joe Biden isn’t going anyplace,” he mentioned. But when he does, “anybody apart from Kamala could be malpractice — and it could tear the get together aside.”

Seawright argued that the stress on Biden to step apart is coming solely from white Democrats to this point, a minimum of publicly. He mentioned that divide is usually about Black voters’ belief in Biden and their recognition of his document. However he mentioned it’s additionally about what’s good for the get together as an entire, together with Black politicians. Risking a contested conference, even one which nominates Harris, might guarantee widespread losses, and in flip, make it much less doubtless than ever to see Democratic Home chief Hakeem Jeffries develop into Speaker or Harris or one other Black girl sit within the Oval Workplace.

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., and her colleagues echoed a few of these sentiments.

“Folks say Joe Biden’s too outdated. Hell, I’m older than Biden!” mentioned the 85-year-old congresswoman. “It ain’t gonna be no different Democratic candidate, and we higher understand it.”

Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, performed up the ability Harris already holds.

“We acquired a Black vp of the US of America, a sister who got here right here to be with us right now,” she mentioned. “So, let’s not get it twisted. I do know who I’m voting for. I’m with the Biden-Harris crew, as a result of we’re nonetheless going to have a sister within the White Home preventing for us and making a distinction.”

Waters mentioned Biden’s help of Black communities and the distinction with Trump ought to be sufficient. She known as the previous president “a no-good, mendacity, despicable human being” with a white nationalist agenda. “Who the hell do you assume he’s going to return after?” Waters requested, noting Trump’s help from teams just like the Proud Boys. “ he means enterprise.”

In additional than a dozen interviews with Essence attendees, opinions diversified on Biden’s power as a candidate and his talents to serve one other 4 years. However there was a transparent consensus on a number of factors: Solely Biden can resolve his destiny; if he does step away, he ought to again Harris; and defeating Trump is the highest precedence.

“I’m with him, completely,” mentioned Erica Peterson of New Orleans. “He’s delivered, and one debate shouldn’t be going to vary my thoughts. … And if it’s not Joe Biden, I’m along with her.”

Star Robert, a 37-year-old nurse in New York Metropolis, mentioned if there’s a shift, then Biden and Democrats couldn’t credibly select anybody apart from Harris, provided that the president, get together and voters already selected her as second-in-line. Nonetheless, she was skeptical about Harris’s prospects.

“I’m undecided that she’s accomplished sufficient to generate the belief of sufficient voters,” Robert mentioned. “I don’t know if that’s all her fault, I simply haven’t seen sufficient of her, we haven’t. I don’t know what her angle is.”

Regardless, Robert added, “I’m undecided the nation is prepared for an additional Black president, and if we have been prepared for a girl, Hillary Clinton would have overwhelmed the clown (Trump) the primary time he ran.”

Harris, for her half, answered that sort of skepticism at the same time as she studiously prevented the quick marketing campaign drama.

“Ambition is an effective factor. We don’t must step quietly,” she mentioned of being a lady of coloration in highly effective circles. “Folks in your life will inform you it’s not your time. It’s not your flip. No one such as you has accomplished it earlier than. … I wish to say that I eat ‘no’ for breakfast.”