Harris Considers Endorsing a Former Opponent

'New York Times' reports she's leaning toward Biden
By Bob Cronin,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 24, 2020 2:35 PM CST
Harris Considers Endorsing a Former Opponent
Sen. Kamala Harris arrives at the Capitol in Washington on Thursday.   (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Kamala Harris is thinking about throwing her support to former opponent Joe Biden in the Democratic presidential race, party officials tell the New York Times. Biden has already said he'd consider picking her as a running mate, and an endorsement could put her in position for that. But there are risks for the California senator, the Times notes. Harris, who quit the race in early December, could be hurt with her supporters back home if she backs Biden—and he loses the state's primary on March 3. Should Biden be the nominee and lose the general election, it also could affect how voters to the left of Biden think of her next time, for her Senate reelection campaign or the 2024 presidential race.

Harris and Biden had clashed on the debate stage, but they had gotten along since Harris and Biden's son Beau were state attorney generals at the same time, per the Times. The former vice president has praised Harris often lately. "She's solid," he said, per Newsweek. "She can be the president one day herself. She can be the vice president. She can go on to be a Supreme Court justice." A spokesman said Harris hasn't decided about an endorsement, and she's unlikely to announce such a thing until the impeachment trial ends, Democratic officials said. (More Kamala Harris stories.)

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