Carville: Harris 'gonna get slaughtered' by attacks; Democrats 'better be ready'

Democratic political strategist James Carville warned Democrats to prepare for an onslaught of GOP attacks against Vice President Harris as Republicans look to win the White House back for former President Trump.

"Look, she’s gonna get slaughtered," Carville said in an interview released Monday on PBS's "Firing Line" with Margaret Hoover.

"And [Democrats] have got to get up and get ready. And they’ve got to be able to defend and attack at the same time," the veteran Democratic strategist said.

Harris became the likely Democratic nominee for president last week after President Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed her.

Her entrance and Biden's exit has immediately changed the nature of the race, with polling showing a close race and Democrats seemingly more energized by Harris than the incumbent.

Nonetheless, Carville said the next few weeks will be crucial as both sides seek to define Harris.

"There is going to be a time of struggle of definition as to who Vice President Harris is. And we better be ready for that," Carville said. "But I feel like we are in a better position today than we were Sunday morning [before Biden dropped out]."

Carville suggested it made sense that Democrats are more excited about Harris than the 81-year-old Biden.

"What happened was that people wanted something different, and that she just projects the fact that she is, you know, excited about the future," said Carville, who had voiced pessimism about Biden's reelection chances.

"And there was no policy that anyone was pushing, and there was no particular group that was behind it. It was just a general feeling that people wanted a different choice than Donald Trump and President Biden. And they got it," Carville said.