i did not oppose busing in america. what i opposed is busing ordered by the department of education. reporter: it was a performance even many admirers charitably describe as rusty with one ally telling kcnn he knows has to do better and now biden is trying to seize command over his long record which he struggled to do on the debate stage. i want to be absolutely clear about my record and position on racial justice, including busing. i never, never, never, ever opposed voluntary busy. reporter: but the issue wasn t voluntary busing it was desegregating schools which biden opposed. the way to set civil rights further back is to continue to push busing because it is a bact policy. reporter: in the 2020 campaign the controversy isn t about busing but a conversation about the direction of democrats and whether biden fits the