Biden and Harris will clash in a debate, with their legacies pitted against each other: NYT columnist.

In Philadelphia on Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris will face her toughest opponent of the election cycle, according to a columnist, and it is not former President Trump.

President Biden is, according to a New York Times opinion piece published on Thursday, Harris' "most complicated antagonist," requiring her to both deflect from and defend him.

Carlos Lozada, a Times opinion columnist, wrote that Harris will have to confront President Biden's record, shifting public approval rating, and intertwined legacies from now until Election Day. Her supporters are excited to see her "prosecute the case" against Trump in their debate. However, when it comes to the Biden years, Harris is both prosecutor and defendant, reformer and institutionalist, presenting a contrast and continuity, which is a more challenging sell.

Lozada described Harris's dilemma as "awkward but simple." She suggested that Harris has two options: either own the achievements of the Biden administration and face criticism on inflation and the border, or distance herself and become a "nonfactor" as vice president.

Lozada stated that it appears that Donald Trump desires to run against Joe Biden, while Kamala Harris may wish she didn't have to.

On Wednesday, CNN reported that Harris agreed to the rules of the upcoming ABC debate after receiving separate "assurances" that mics could be turned on during the debate and the moderators would explain unheard exchanges.

The Harris campaign accepted the debate rules while continuing to complain about the terms.

The letter stated that Vice President Harris, a former prosecutor, will be at a disadvantage due to the format, which will protect Donald Trump from direct conversations with the Vice President. We believe this is the main reason for the campaign's insistence on using muted microphones.

Despite Biden withdrawing from the presidential race in July, the Harris campaign continued with the planned ABC debate. However, following Trump's agreement, the Harris campaign attempted to modify the rules to have the microphones live during the event.

Despite Trump's initial willingness, he and his campaign later criticized Harris for her sudden demand for changes.

In the 2020 presidential debate, Trump frequently interrupted and spoke over Biden, resulting in him being seen as the loser. However, in their meeting in June, Trump's improved performance and Biden's poor showing led to Biden's exit from the White House race.

Planet Chronicle' Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.