In a recent conversation with Anderson Cooper on CNN, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was questioned several times regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’s suitability as President Joe Biden’s 2024 running mate. While Pelosi sidestepped a direct endorsement, she emphasized that the President believes in Harris, and that’s of utmost importance.
Pelosi went on to highlight Harris’s political acumen, noting that the Vice President is frequently underestimated. Drawing attention to Harris’s past accomplishments, Pelosi mentioned how Harris, despite starting at a mere 6% in the polls when running for the California Attorney General position, skillfully built a case for herself and eventually clinched the role. Pelosi stressed that Harris’s political journey should not be overlooked, emphasizing her significant contributions and capabilities.
When Cooper continued probing Pelosi on Harris’s suitability for the Vice Presidential role, Pelosi defended Harris’s position by clarifying the nature of the VP role. She mentioned that the Vice President’s duties are not always in the spotlight, but that doesn’t diminish the importance of the position. Harris, according to Pelosi, has been a beacon of strength, inspiration, and intellectual prowess, representing the nation commendably both domestically and internationally.
Since stepping into the Vice Presidential role, Harris has been entrusted with challenging responsibilities, ranging from addressing root causes of Central American migration like poverty and corruption to managing issues like climate change.
Debate has swirled around Biden’s decision to choose Harris as his running mate for 2024, especially given recent polling data. As of mid-September, polling data from FiveThirtyEight suggests that both Biden and Harris have experienced a decline in approval ratings since the early days of their administration. Specifically, more than half of the surveyed Americans expressed disapproval of Harris, with a similar sentiment echoed for Biden. This decline in popularity has been attributed to the challenges both faced in their roles, particularly the complex issue of immigration that Harris spearheaded.
