Sen. Ted Cruz did not hold back in his assessment of Vice President Kamala Harris’s performance during Tuesday’s ABC News debate, declaring on his Verdict podcast that Harris struggled to defend her record in the Biden-Harris administration.

Cruz accused Harris of sidestepping important questions about her past record and relying heavily on pre-prepared statements, as the Daily Wire reports.

According to Cruz, the vice president repeated portions of many of her past speeches, offering few new insights. He stated that her performance was a rehash of her previous campaign appearances.

Accusations of Soundbite Responses

During the podcast, Cruz critiqued Harris’s approach to responding to key questions. He claimed that her answers were often pre-scripted and lacked depth. "What tonight illustrated is that Kamala Harris is utterly incapable of defending her own record," Cruz said. He went on to describe her answers as a series of soundbites, cut from her previous speeches and debates.

According to Cruz, Harris avoided addressing whether Americans were better off under the current administration compared to the previous Trump administration. He expressed disappointment in her failure to offer a concrete answer to this significant question.

Cruz Questions Harris's Public Engagement

In his analysis, Cruz also predicted that Harris might avoid public appearances in the lead-up to Election Day. He speculated that she would not emerge for further public debates or discussions until then. "If I were to predict, we’re not going to see Kamala emerge from the basement until Election Day," Cruz said.

He went further, suggesting that Harris’s team might strategically limit her exposure to shield her from criticism. He argued that media support for Harris could protect her from negative public perception.

Media’s Potential Role in Perceptions of Harris

Cruz also touched on how the media might handle Harris's performance. He alleged that media outlets would likely frame her performance positively, regardless of her actual debate showing. "They were going to say that whatever happened -- she could literally fall to the ground and start screaming and wailing -- and they would say she won," Cruz commented.

His comments emphasized that, in his view, there was little room for honest critique of Harris's record due to the media's portrayal. Cruz argued that no matter what occurred during the debate, the narrative would always be favorable to Harris.

Cruz: Harris Lacks a Strong Record Defense

According to Cruz, the most striking element of Harris's debate performance was her inability to address her own record. He argued that she provided no compelling defense of her time in office, particularly on the topic of how Americans have fared under the Biden administration.

"What we learned is she doesn’t have a good answer to her own record," Cruz said in conclusion. He reiterated that her lack of substantial responses indicated an inability to effectively defend her track record.

Debate Moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis

The debate, moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis, provided a platform for Harris to address critical issues surrounding the current administration. However, according to Cruz, she failed to take full advantage of the opportunity. His analysis of her performance was largely centered on what he viewed as missed chances to clarify her position on key topics.

Cruz’s remarks were among many critiques that followed the debate, highlighting what he saw as a fundamental weakness in Harris’s ability to navigate difficult questions. In his view, this inability to offer clear responses could play a significant role in the lead-up to Election Day.

Potential Impact on Harris’s Campaign Strategy

Cruz's prediction that Harris might limit her public appearances could suggest a change in her campaign strategy. By avoiding future debates or interviews, she might aim to avoid further scrutiny of her record. Cruz’s commentary suggests that this could be a deliberate effort to minimize opportunities for critique.

As Election Day approaches, Cruz’s analysis raises questions about how Harris will manage public appearances and whether she will address the concerns raised during the debate.

Conclusion

In summary, Sen. Ted Cruz’s post-debate analysis sharply critiqued Vice President Kamala Harris’s performance, arguing that she failed to defend her record in the Biden-Harris administration.

Cruz criticized her responses as canned and lacking substance. He further predicted that Harris might avoid public appearances until Election Day and suggested that media support might protect her from negative coverage, regardless of her performance.

Overall, Cruz emphasized that Harris lacked a compelling defense of her own record.