Former Vice President Joe Biden told CNN’s Chris Cuomo on Friday that he wasn’t prepared for Senator Kamala Harris’s direct confrontation of him over his position on busing during the first 2020 Democratic debates.

Biden says he wasn’t prepared for Kamala Harris to confront him on issues of race during the first Democratic debate: “I was prepared for them to come after me, but I wasn’t prepared for the person coming at me the way she came at me. She knew Beau (Biden) and she knows me” pic.twitter.com/rhpHxQLGtE
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 5, 2019

Said Biden: “I was prepared for them to come after me, but I wasn’t prepared for the person coming at me the way she came at me. She knew Beau (Biden) and she knows me.”

The candidates were still sparring over the issue on the 4th of July holiday.

"I don't have to atone… my record stands for itself. I've never been accused by anybody… of not being an overwhelming supporter of civil rights and civil liberties… This is kind of a new thing."

Presidential candidate Joe Biden remarks on busing controversy at Iowa parade. pic.twitter.com/tVEVXMs4rj
— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) July 4, 2019

Harris told reporters, “[Joe Biden] has yet to agree that his position on this which was to work with segregationists and oppose busing was wrong, period. And you know let’s just — do we need to do a quick lesson in history?”

Sen. Kamala Harris: "[Joe Biden] has yet to agree that his position on this which was to work with segregationists and oppose busing was wrong, period. And you know let's just — do we need to do a quick lesson in history?" pic.twitter.com/pqmwrHJgt6
— The Hill (@thehill) July 5, 2019