Before heading off to California, Vice President Kamala Harris took the opportunity to clarify a remark she made about President Joe Biden.
The remark she sought to clarify was made during an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash.
“Joe Biden is running for reelection, and I will be his ticket mate,” Harris said. “Full stop.”
Politico reported on Thursday that Harris “did something unusual” Wednesday afternoon and went to the back of the plane to talk to reporters.
White House aides told the pool reporter that the vice president wanted to clarify a remark she made to Bash.
“The president intends to run, and if he does, I will be his ticket mate,” Harris said.
She added, “We will run together.”
Harris to CNN, aired Monday: "Joe Biden is running for reelection and I will be his ticket mate."
— Olivier Knox (@OKnox) June 29, 2022
Today: pic.twitter.com/6y9U0zUwOv
Politico explained this “could be what White House aides claim it is: a technical correction because Harris’s initial unambiguous present tense declaration about Biden running could trigger FEC fundraising rules.”
The report continues, “But Biden will be 80 in November, and prominent Democrats are on a hair trigger for any evidence that he might not run.”
On Wednesday, NBC News noted Biden in recent weeks has been selling Democrats on himself for 2024.
According to people who have spoken with the outlet, “Biden will argue he’s the only one who can beat Trump, sometimes ticking through the names of potential Democratic candidates if he stepped aside — Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, even Vice President Kamala Harris. Then rhetorically asks: Can any of them beat his 2020 rival?”
One Democrat familiar with the president’s comments told NBC it is “basically the same argument he was making at this point in 2018 about why he thought he might have to run.”
The Democrat added, “He would just walk through every candidate.”
Earlier this week, The New York Times reported Biden and his top aides have been “stung” by questions about his 2024 plans.
Additionally, they reportedly have been “irritated at what they see as a lack of respect from their party and the press.”
