Biden implies he will help Harris choose her running mate
White House Press Secretary says Biden has been ‘a mentor’ to Vice President Harris on a number of issues
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.In the nearly ten days since President Biden shocked the world by announcing that he would withdraw from his quest for a second term and endorse Kamala Harris in his stead, Washington has buzzed with speculation over who Harris might choose as a running mate.
When asked if he’s spoken to her about the veepstakes early on Tuesday morning as he returned from a trip to Texas, Biden replied: “We’ll talk.”
Harris could do worse than to take counsel from the 46th president. Biden has experience on both ends of that equation, having been selected for the number-two job by Barack Obama in 2008, and having selected Harris to be his own running-mate during his victorious run against Trump twelve years later.
Biden and his possible successor are understood to speak regularly. They also meet for lunch at semi-regular intervals, and Harris has joined Biden in-person for his President’s Daily Brief on occasion. She also has an office in the West Wing, just steps away from the Oval Office where Biden spends his working hours.
Asked about Biden’s early-morning comments about consulting with Harris later on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre demurred. In doing so, she cited an inability to comment on election-related matters because of the Hatch Act, a nearly century-old ethics law which prohibits federal workers from engaging in partisan political activity on the job.
But she did tell reporters that Harris and Biden “talk regularly” and last spoke “about a day or two ago.”
“They stay in touch and and that's going to continue ... not just because, obviously, the vice president is running, but that's going to continue because, as I said, she's a critical partner in what they do,” she said.
Jean-Pierre added that Biden “has been in public service for more than 54 years,” and said that in his dual roles as president and leader of the Democratic Party, he “always offers up advice, any type of little bit of wisdom that he has” based on his “experience on these multiple fronts” as a senator, vice president and as president.
She added that Biden has regularly “offered his advice, his opinion” and has been “a mentor” to Harris.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments