Former Vice President Kamala Harris shared her thoughts in an interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday, expressing regret over not personally challenging former President Joe Biden regarding his decision to run for reelection. During the candid conversation with co-anchor Michael Strahan, Harris acknowledged that she felt it was a reckless choice not to voice her concerns about Biden's campaign.
When asked whether she regretted not voicing her opinion at that pivotal moment, Harris replied affirmatively, stating, "Yes, I have reflected on that, and I've written about it." In her campaign memoir titled 107 Days, she emphasizes that the decision to run for reelection was ultimately between Joe and Jill Biden.
Strahan pressed her further, questioning whether her input would have made a difference. Harris admitted, "I don't know," adding, "I can only take responsibility for myself." She reflected on her internal struggle, pondering whether her decision to remain silent was a gesture of grace or a moment of recklessness. "On my part, I do reflect on that and feel that it was a recklessness about not raising it with him," she stated.
Harris explained that she hesitated to raise her concerns because she feared it would come across as self-serving, potentially undermining her credibility. "What was going through my head was that it would come off as being very self-serving, and therefore maybe lack the credibility that it deserved," she elaborated. However, she reiterated her admiration for Biden's ability to serve as President of the United States, stating that her concerns about his reelection were independent of her respect for him.
Later in the day, Harris appeared on The View, where she opened up about the profound grief she experienced following her electoral loss. She described the night of the election as one of the most challenging moments since her mother passed away from cancer in 2009. "I grieved in a way that I have not since my mother died," she revealed, resonating deeply with the audience. She expressed that her sorrow was not solely about losing a race but rather about the implications for the country.
Reflecting on a previous interview during the 2024 campaign, where it took her nearly 30 minutes to articulate how she differentiated herself from Biden, Harris acknowledged that this moment symbolized a larger issue. "I am a loyal person, and I didn't fully appreciate how much people wanted to know there was a difference between me and President Biden," she noted. She believed her policy proposals on the campaign trail should have sufficed to highlight her differences.
In a light-hearted moment, co-host Joy Behar joked about the role of race and gender in Harris’s campaign. When asked if America would elect a woman in Behar's lifetime, Harris confidently responded, "I believe that we will." She acknowledged the complexities of being the first woman and a person of color in various offices but emphasized her belief that voters ultimately prioritize competence over identity.
Looking ahead, Harris stressed the importance of the Democratic Party focusing on the immediate needs of Americans rather than long-term projects like infrastructure. "The American people want their immediate needs met," she asserted, suggesting that the party should prioritize issues like affordable childcare and paid leave in future legislation. "Going forward, that has to be an imperative," she concluded.
