Former Vice President Kamala Harris has implied that Democrats surrounding former President Joe Biden failed to take sufficient action to prevent his ill-fated re-election bid in 2024, as per an excerpt from a newly released book.
In a snippet from “107 Days,” a nod to the duration of her unexpected presidential campaign, Harris revealed that amid speculations about Biden’s re-election, the decision was left to the 81-year-old president and his wife, Jill.
Reflecting on the events, Harris questioned whether the approach was guided by grace or recklessness, leaning towards the latter in hindsight. She expressed her concerns in the excerpt released by the Atlantic.
Following a challenging performance in an unusually early presidential debate in June 2024, where Biden struggled with memory lapses and countering inaccuracies from Republican opponent Donald Trump, he announced the end of his re-election campaign, becoming the first president to do so since Lyndon Johnson in 1968.
Subsequently, there have been inquiries into Biden’s cognitive state, with speculations about whether his close aides concealed his difficulties in managing presidential responsibilities. Both the White House and Republicans in Congress have pledged investigations into these matters.
Harris defended Biden’s capabilities in the excerpt, asserting that even on his worst day, he surpassed Trump in knowledge, judgment, and compassion. She attributed Biden’s apparent struggles to fatigue, particularly after extensive travel commitments.
The excerpt also touches on Harris’s support for Biden following the debate, emphasizing his strengths and the challenges he faced. Harris refrained from leading any efforts to persuade Biden to step down, citing concerns about appearing overly ambitious.
Biden’s unconventional path to the presidency, marked by previous failed bids, is highlighted in the book. Despite facing setbacks, Harris acknowledged Biden’s strategic acumen in navigating political landscapes.
With historical significance, Biden selected Harris as his running mate in 2020, making her the first woman to hold the position of Vice President in the United States. Harris’s evolving political journey and her interactions within the Biden administration are subjects of interest in the book.
While Harris has refrained from announcing future political plans, her experiences and perspectives on key policy decisions are anticipated in the book. The challenges and victories of her vice-presidential tenure, alongside her reflections on the White House environment, are likely to be featured in her upcoming publication.
Harris’s narrative also sheds light on the internal workings of her vice-presidential office, addressing staff turnover and operational challenges faced during her tenure. Despite the defeat in the 2020 election, Harris’s supporters may find merit in a potential future bid, given her close race against Trump and past electoral performance.
Harris’s multicultural background and diverse experiences, from California to Quebec, shape her political identity and perspectives. As she prepares to launch her fourth book with Simon & Schuster, Harris is expected to embark on a promotional tour to discuss her insights and reflections on her political journey.