In a candid revelation, Former Vice President Kamala Harris has expressed that it was a significant error for the Democrats to permit President Joe Biden to make the decision regarding his reelection bid unilaterally. In her upcoming book, 107 Days, which was featured in an excerpt published by The Atlantic on Wednesday, Harris articulated that the choice should not have been left to an individual’s ego.
In a remarkable shift, Harris stated, “As loyal as I am to President Biden, I am more loyal to my country.” She lamented her experiences in Biden’s administration, indicating that it was nearly impossible to receive positive acknowledgment for her work or to defend herself against false attacks. This sentiment highlights the challenges faced by vice presidents and the dynamics within the current administration.
Harris accused Biden's staff of perpetuating negative narratives regarding her performance as vice president. She claimed that they often failed to defend her against Republican attacks, which included accusations of running a chaotic office with a high staff turnover during her initial year in office. “I was the first vice president to have a dedicated press pool tracking my every public move,” she noted, emphasizing how unprecedented media scrutiny transformed the public perception of her role.
Despite her criticisms, Harris defended President Biden against allegations questioning his capability to serve effectively as president. In response to her remarks, ABC News reached out to the Biden camp for a statement, but no immediate response was available.
Earlier in May, President Biden addressed Harris' loss in the 2024 presidential election during an interview on ABC's The View. He attributed her defeat not to her qualifications, but to the sexism and racism directed at her. “I wasn't surprised, not because I didn't think the vice president was the most qualified person to be president … I wasn't surprised because they went the route of the sexist route,” Biden remarked, providing insight into the multifaceted challenges Harris faced during her campaign.
In the same interview, Biden asserted that he still believes he could have defeated Donald Trump if he had chosen to run in the 2024 election. He referenced the significant margin by which he won the popular vote in the 2020 election, stating, “Yeah, he still got seven million fewer votes.” This comment reflects Biden's confidence in his electoral prowess, despite the complexities surrounding his administration's dynamics.
When questioned about claims that he should have endorsed Harris sooner, Biden defended the timing, stating that she had ample time to campaign. He emphasized their collaborative decision-making, stating, “We worked together in every decision I made.” However, Harris offers a different perspective on the inner workings of the administration. “When the stories were unfair or inaccurate, the president’s inner circle seemed fine with it,” she reflected in her book. “Their thinking was zero-sum: If she’s shining, he’s dimmed.”
Harris articulated that her success was not just vital for her own political future but also for Biden’s presidency. “If I did well, he did well,” she stated, stressing that her visible achievements as vice president were crucial, especially given concerns about his age. She believes that her success would reflect positively on Biden's judgment in selecting her as his running mate, offering reassurance to the nation that the country was in capable hands.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, Harris' insights into her experiences in the Biden administration provide a unique perspective on the complexities of leadership and the interplay of loyalty, public perception, and internal dynamics within the Democratic Party.
