He describes the kind of real-time processing he has tried to engage in recently — including whether he should have hugged the TV hosts. “I actually thought in my head when I walked out here,” he says. “I mean, do I? We’re friends. But I have to be aware of it. I have to be more cognizant.”

When he seems to be stopping short of an unqualified apology, Joy Behar pushes. “Nancy Pelosi wants you to say, ‘I’m sorry that I invaded your space.’”

“Sorry I invaded your space. And I am, I’m sorry this happened,” Biden says.

It is his job to “read better,” he adds, though he seems like he wants to say more. “It was inappropriate that I didn’t understand, that I assumed,” he says. “Look, I was — anyway.” He cuts himself off.

Sydney: One thing I’m struck by is that it took the hosts multiple tries to get him to say “I’m sorry.” It’s not clear whether this will satisfy those who were not happy with how he’s dealt with the allegations so far, which has included joking about them. His apology was direct, but it took him a while to get there. It seemed almost flip.

Alex: This is a very genial format for Biden to address a whole bunch of difficult issues for his candidacy, including his age and his physical manner with women. The questions are getting served up pretty gently and without a lot of follow-up, and sometimes the hosts are expressing sympathy with his answers, as Ana Navarro just did on the question of Biden and women’s personal space. I’m left wondering how Biden will respond to less-warm questioning on the same subjects. His answer on his ideas for the future, for instance, was totally vague.

On Anita Hill

Matt: When asked about his treatment of Anita Hill when he was overseeing the Clarence Thomas hearings, Biden’s answer gets at the frustration among many in the party with his semi-apology to Hill: He doesn’t seem to think he should have, or could have, done anything all that differently.

“I did everything in my power to do what I thought was within the rules,” he says.

Sydney: Here’s the line that will get attention: “I don’t think I treated her badly.” Many might disagree.