In an attempt to salvage her political career and reassure the American public, Vice President Kamala Harris spun an awkward deflection during her recent “60 Minutes” interview, dodging questions about her potential succession to the presidency in the case of an incapacitated Biden. When pressed by correspondent Bill Whitaker about why Democratic donors are not confident in her ability to lead, Harris pivoted to assure the reporter that Biden is “very much alive and running for re-election.”
But this response did nothing to answer the pressing question at hand. Whitaker wasn’t asking if Biden was still alive, or even about his health. He was questioning why Harris is not seen as a viable replacement in the eyes of Democratic donors.
Harris could have easily reassured the public by acknowledging her role as vice president and her ability to continue the administration’s work. Instead, she chose to sidestep the question with a vague and evasive response. This speaks volumes about Harris’ confidence in her own qualifications and her standing within the Democratic party.
From her failed leadership on issues like voting rights and immigration, to her latest task of heading the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, Harris has made little impact in her role as vice president. And while she may have confidently stated in a September interview that she’s prepared to take over the presidency if needed, her reluctance to even entertain the possibility in her recent interview suggests that she has received backlash from the party for being so candid.
The Biden-Harris partnership is built on a shaky foundation of mutual reliance and potentially even blackmail. Biden chose Harris as his running mate to appease the party’s left wing, and Harris knows she owes her position to identity politics.
Without Biden, she’s a second-rate senator with a history of being on the wrong side of the political spectrum, such as her despicable attempt to smear then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Harris’ deflection in the “60 Minutes” interview reveals her awareness of her own unpopularity and her limited potential in the political landscape without Biden. And the fact that she used the word “hypothetical” twice in her response shows that she was on edge, perhaps afraid of repercussions from the party for giving an honest answer.
Harris may try to portray herself as a confident and capable leader, but her actions and words show otherwise. Her lack of success and inability to answer simple questions about her potential future as president are a clear indication that she knows being a black woman is not enough to sustain her political career.
And it’s no wonder she wants to keep that information from the rest of the country…