"Of all the people working in the White House, I was in the worst possible position to urge Joe Biden to drop out of the race. To advise him against running would be viewed by Joe as selfishly opportunistic, even disloyal, even if my message was purely about 'don't let the other guy win'," former Vice President Kamala Harris wrote in an excerpt from her book, *107 Days*, published on 10/9.
*107 Days*, slated for release on 23/9, chronicles Harris's brief 2024 presidential campaign.
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Former Vice President Kamala Harris at an event in San Francisco, California on 30/4. Photo: AFP |
Former Vice President Kamala Harris at an event in San Francisco, California on 30/4. Photo: AFP
According to Harris, those in the White House constantly reminded themselves that it was Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, who made the final decision to run.
"Was it noble or reckless? In retrospect, it feels reckless. The risks were simply too great. Ego and ambition should not have decided such a thing. It should have been an impersonal decision," an excerpt from the book reads.
Biden withdrew from the presidential race on 21/7/2024, following pressure from numerous Democratic leaders after a lackluster performance in the first debate against Donald Trump. Harris subsequently became the Democratic nominee but ultimately lost to Trump.
Harris maintains that Biden remained capable of leading the country until the end of his term, despite concerns about his mental acuity.
"Joe Biden is intelligent, experienced, deeply principled and more than capable of being president. On his worst day, he was more knowledgeable, more judicious, and more compassionate than his opponent. But at 81, Joe was tired. The debate came after two trips to Europe and one to the West Coast, so it was no surprise that Joe faltered," Harris wrote.
A few months ago, a leaked recording of a conversation between Biden and Special Counsel Robert Hur seemed to indicate memory lapses and a lack of focus. The recording reignited concerns about Biden's mental health, more than 100 days after Trump took office.
Huyen Le (The Atlantic, Hill)
