Anti-Israel protests at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) could “damage” Vice President Kamala Harris's re-emergence with voters, CNN panelists predicted on “The Chris Wallace Show” on Saturday.

CNN host Chris Wallace began the show by recalling how anti-Vietnam War protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago “dealt a blow” to the Democratic Party, then asked panelists whether pro-Palestinian protests could mar Harris' “debut party” at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

New York Times contributing editor Kristen Soltis Anderson said she expected the Gaza war protests to disrupt Harris' Democratic National Convention debut, speculating that her presidential bid could suffer if “Democrats are seen as not even in control of their convention.”

“I expect they probably will. They've certainly expressed an interest in doing so. And I think that's going to be a really big deal for Harris because she's using this convention week as a way to introduce herself to voters who don't really know much about what she's done as vice president for the last four years,” Anderson said.

“In some ways, this blank canvas that you mentioned, her time as vice president, seems like a bad thing in some ways, right? Does the administration not trust her? Why don't they have her in the room? What has she actually done over the last four years?” she continued.

“But in a weird way, it gives her this opportunity now, an opportunity to come into her own on issues like the economy, where voters trusted Donald Trump by an overwhelming margin more than Joe Biden. Now she's coming pretty close to Donald Trump. So having this opportunity to introduce herself at this convention is a really important moment. If it's hidden in chaos and makes voters think, 'Oh, the Democrats can't even control their own convention,' how are they going to bring law and order, safety, security and peace to this country? That would be a bad message for them.” (Related: Democratic National Convention attendees will have access to free vasectomies and abortions)

At least a dozen local Chicago businesses have barred off their windows and doors with plywood in anticipation of disruptive protests outside the Democratic National Convention. According to To WGN9.

CNN panelist Lulu Garcia-Navarro added that the “image of chaos” created by the disorderly protests would hurt Democrats.

“I think that's potentially harmful,” Garcia-Navarro said. “I mean, that's what protests are about, right? They want attention, they want accountability. A lot of the younger democrats are very upset about what's going on, and that's why I think we see the time being right now with regards to what's going on in Israel and the ceasefire.”

Biden endorsed Harris shortly after she announced her support after he gave up his reelection bid on July 21. Despite becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee in July, Vice President Biden has not made any formal statements to the media in face-to-face interviews or press conferences.

The DNC begins on Monday and is scheduled to end on Thursday.