Vice President Kamala Harris has publicly supported President Joe Biden amid mounting calls for him to step down.
Topline
As President Joe Biden’s support continues to fizzle among congressional Democrats, pundits and donors, some party members are now calling on Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him, hoping Harris could stymie former President Donald Trump’s chances in the November election, even though polls show Harris and Biden behind Trump in a head-to-head race.Key Facts
Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., became the latest House Democrat to call on Biden to “pass the torch” to Harris, arguing in a statement on Saturday Harris “can seamlessly transition into the role of our party’s standard bearer,” lauding Harris as an “invaluable governing partner to the President.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., praised Harris in an MSNBC interview Saturday morning, saying the vice president is “ready to step up” and “take on Donald Trump,” though she did not go as far as to call on Biden to step aside, saying Biden “is our nominee” and has “a really big decision to make.”
Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C. a key Biden ally and former member of the House Democratic leadership—said he would support Harris as the Democratic nominee, and while he has not called on Biden to step down, he told MSNBC earlier this month the Democratic party should “bolster” its support behind Harris (Clyburn previously floated the idea of a “mini primary” to determine the party nominee).
Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., joined the growing list of Democrats urging Biden to step aside Friday as concerns mount over his advanced age and mental acuity following last month’s debate, arguing Harris should take his place with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, CNN’s Manu Raju reported.
Former Rep. Tim Ryan, D, Ohio, endorsed Harris to replace Biden in a Newsweek op-ed, calling Harris is the party’s “best path forward,” lauding the vice president’s public address at the time of Biden’s debate a “ray of light in the darkness” and slamming “those who questioned her chops over the past several years” (Harris has faced criticism over her past views on criminal justice and a lackluster approval ratings).
