Kamala Harris touted the endorsement of the Iowa Asian and Latino Coalition, the same group where Joe Biden made one of his biggest gaffes to date comparing the intellects of “poor kids” and “white kids.”
The coalition spent the last year meeting with over a dozen candidates and voted Monday night to support the California Democrat, saying: “The Asian and Latino Coalition officially endorses Senator Kamala Harris.”
“She has the strength and the personality to take on Donald Trump on the debate stage,” Coalition Chairman Prakash Kopparapu said in a statement released by the Harris campaign.
“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Asian and Latino Coalition. During this campaign, I’ve been lucky to have the chance to spend time with leadership and get to know members of the coalition. Their mission and values of equality and justice are the same values I am fighting for in this campaign,” Harris responded.
Biden also addressed the coalition last Thursday where his comments drew unflattering coverage. “The other thing we should do is we should challenge these students. We should challenge students in these schools that have advanced placement classes in these schools. We have this notion that somehow if you’re poor you cannot do it.”
The former vice president added, “Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids —,” correcting himself, “— wealthy kids, black kids, Asian kids.”
Biden’s campaign manager Kate Bedingfield issued a statement the following day addressing Biden’s slip-up saying, “Donald Trump is desperate to change the subject from his atrocious record of using racism to divide this country. Vice President Biden misspoke and immediately corrected himself during a refrain he often uses to make the point that all children deserve a fair shot, and children born into lower-income circumstances are just as smart as those born to wealthy parents.”
At the same event Biden briefly confused now deceased former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with former U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May. This is the second time such a mix-up has occurred for Biden.
Additionally, moderators at the event appeared frustrated by Biden’s long answers to coalition members’ questions to him and routinely asked the former vice president to keep his answers shorter so more members could ask questions.
However, the damage appeared to be done and Biden was unable to win over members support. The coalition was founded three years ago by its Director Mitch Henry, who is Latino and Som Baccam, an Asian community leader. The organization became a PAC in 2016.
Only one Asian American ever served in the Iowa State Legislature and no Latinos, the Des Moines Register notes. In addition, Iowa’s Latinos and Asians make up a population of under 300,000 residents or less than 10% of the state’s population.
[Related: ‘He keeps saying stupid stuff’: Iowa Democrats concerned about Biden’s gaffes]
