Vice President Kamala Harris stands by her previous defense of President Joe Biden’s mental fitness, even as she campaigns to succeed him. When asked by CNN if she regrets defending Biden amid growing skepticism after the first presidential debate, Harris responded, “No, not at all.”
Harris, now the Democratic presidential candidate, stepped up after Biden withdrew from the race last month following a poorly received debate performance against former President Donald Trump in June. Biden’s stumbles during the debate, where he frequently lost his train of thought, sparked concerns about his mental acuity and age, even among his traditional Democratic supporters. Throughout the controversy, Harris publicly supported Biden, securing his endorsement just minutes after he ended his campaign.
When pressed by CNN’s Dana Bash on whether Biden endorsed her to run in his place when he announced his withdrawal, Harris evaded the question. “He was very clear that he was gonna support me,” she said. Bash followed up, asking if Biden specifically mentioned his support during that call, to which Harris responded by focusing on Biden’s legacy. “My first thought was not about me… I think history is gonna show a number of things about Joe Biden’s presidency,” she said, highlighting Biden’s achievements in infrastructure, new industries, and international relations.
This interview, which aired on CNN Thursday evening, was Harris’s first in 39 days since becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee. Joined by her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris has largely avoided the media, rarely answering questions on the campaign trail and holding no press conferences. Meanwhile, Biden has spent most of the past two weeks vacationing at beach properties in California and Delaware.
