When it comes to former Vice President Joe Biden’s past clashing with Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) says Biden is “a big boy.”
Despite previously clashing during 2020 Democratic debates, it does not seem to be affecting Harris’ chances at possibly being a vice presidential pick for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Biden. The two clashed over federal busing policy and race, as well as having other heated exchanges during the debates.
Clyburn, who has endorsed Biden for president, spoke with Politico where he told the outlet, “I believe strongly that people make mistakes when they allow the heat of a political campaign and things said during a contest to define you.”
He continued, “We’re at a point now where whoever was part of the scrimmage needs to be on the same team. And I think they are.”
The South Carolina lawmaker added that Biden is a “big boy” and that he has not seen the former vice president have any hostility toward Harris — who was one of the many running to become the 2020 Democratic nominee — despite their previous clashes on the campaign trail.
“Joe Biden is a big boy. I’ve never seen Joe have any animus toward Kamala for what may have been said during the campaign.”
Though the former vice president committed to choosing a woman as his running mate, Clyburn has indicated he would like Biden to pick a woman of color, though he says it is not a “must.”
“I think having a woman on the ticket is a must,” Clyburn previously told NBC News, adding, “I’m among those who feel that it would be great for him to select a woman of color. But that is not a must.”
However, before those remarks, Clyburn did suggest in an interview with NPR that he “would really be pushing for an African American female to go on the ticket.”
In January, after Harris dropped out of the presidential race, Biden was asked by a reporter if he would consider her as his running mate if he were the nominee, to which he said, “I’d consider her for anything that she would be interested in.”
When she endorsed Biden in March, Harris vowed to “do everything in my power to help elect him the next President of the United States.”
Harris’ name has circulated as a potential vice president pick, along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), among others.
