Just as Vice President Kamala Harris was delivering her “closing argument” to undecided voters, President Biden’s offhand comment calling Trump supporters “garbage” set off a political firestorm.

Biden’s remarks, intended to condemn a joke by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump rally, quickly overshadowed Harris’s speech and threatened to derail her efforts to bridge political divides in the final stretch of a tightly contested race.

Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage—which is the only word I can think of to describe it. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s all I meant to say. The…

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 30, 2024

While Harris attempted to reach across the aisle, emphasizing her willingness to work with those who disagree with her, Biden’s statement reverberated across the media. His words drew immediate comparisons to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 “basket of deplorables” remark, a blunder that many say alienated conservative voters and hardened partisan lines.

Harris had focused on finding common ground, flanked by Republican voices like Bob and Kristina Lange, two former Trump supporters from Pennsylvania. Yet, Biden’s comment about Trump’s “garbage” supporters clashed harshly with her message of unity and inclusivity.

The fallout was swift. Republicans leaped at the chance to condemn Biden’s words, framing them as an attack on everyday Americans. At a Trump rally in Allentown, Sen. Marco Rubio condemned Biden, saying, “He’s talking about the Border Patrol, teachers, nurses, and Americans who love their country.”

His statements were met with strong applause, underscoring the potential damage Biden’s words might cause among moderate voters.

Kamala Harris: “I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for.” pic.twitter.com/zlKAhl4ZAx

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 30, 2024

The White House, sensing the backlash, moved quickly to clarify. Biden issued a statement on X, insisting that he had been referring to the “hateful rhetoric” from the comedian at Trump’s rally, not all Trump supporters. But as CNN’s Chris Cillizza noted, Biden’s comment was a major setback for the Harris campaign, with the media circus around it effectively drowning out her final pitch.