'Just speaking truth': Kamala Harris responds to ‘low blow’ Joe Biden criticism

'If segregationists had their way, I would not be a member of the United States Senate today, I would not be a top contender to be president'

Kamala Harris has responded to criticism that she served up a “low blow” towards Joe Biden during the second night of Democratic debates, when the California senator sparred with the former vice president on the issue of race.

The 2020 hopeful told CBS News she was “just speaking truth” when she confronted Mr Biden — the frontrunner of the Democratic primaries so far — over his record, including his former support for segregationist Democrats and opposition to busing as an approach to desegregate the nation’s public school system.

“It was about just speaking truth and as I've said many times, I have a great deal of respect for Joe Biden,” she said on Friday morning after the debates, adding, “but he and I disagree on that.”

“My purpose was to really just make sure that in this conversation we are appreciating the impact on real people of policies that have been pushed in the history of our country,” she added.

The pair’s exchanges ultimately became the highlight of the night, as Ms Harris proved effective in showcasing her strengths and knocking down the highest-polling Democrat running for the shot at taking on Donald Trump in the 2020 general elections.

On Thursday night, Ms Harris described Mr Biden’s previous statements celebrating his work with segregationist as personally “hurtful” for her, before recalling her own experience with busing as a child in California.

“There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools and she was bused to school every day," she said. "That little girl was me."

The jab was clearly teed up, as her campaign immediately released a childhood photo of the senator on her social platforms with the caption reading, “That little girl was me.”

By Friday morning, as Ms Harris was addressing the squabble on TV, her childhood photo was being advertised on campaign merchandise across social media.

Mr Biden also addressed the confrontation following Thursday night’s debates, describing Ms Harris’ comments to reporters as “a mischaracterisation of my position across the board.”

Ms Harris continued to stand by her comments on Friday, saying “I would not be a member of the United States Senate today, I would not be a top contender to be president of the United States” if “segregationists had their way.”