Harris weighing next step, maybe VP?
Six years ago, when President Barack Obama had to replace his departing attorney general, he offered the job to Kamala Harris, who led the California Justice Department — the first woman to occupy that role in its history.
Harris declined the promotion for several reasons, according to advisers from the time. She had not served a full term. She had her sights set on a higher profile in the Senate or as governor of California. Some envisioned a future presidential run. In that view, the job was a political dead end for a motivated and barrier-breaking figure. It also highlighted a personal trait: She would not be pressured into a position she did not want.
Today, Harris — now a senator from California who ran for president last year — finds herself at another political crossroads and is approaching it with similar caution. Although she is among the favorites to become Joe Biden’s vicepresidential nominee, joining him on the Democratic ticket to try to defeat President Donald Trump, she has kept a noticeably lower profile than other possible contenders.
In several interviews, Harris has said she would be “honored” to serve with Biden, but there is no public campaign similar to that carried out by Stacey Abrams, the former candidate for governor in Georgia. There is no surrogate lobbying effort like the one for Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, which includes direct polling presentations. Instead, even people close to Biden — often bombarded with pleas from those vying to be his running mate — have remarked about how little they have heard from
Harris and her allies.
Allies of Harris said she was taking the conventional, low-key route to being considered for vice president, rather than appearing to deliberately audition, with the hope that this approach more closely suits a traditionalist like Biden.
Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, who endorsed Harris in the Democratic primary race, said Harris’ Washington backers believe that the running mate will not be selected by public audition, and that her presidential campaign and executive qualifications will speak for themselves.
“For some of us big Kamala Harris supporters, although we’re making our case when asked, there’s no active campaign toward the VP slot,” Gallego said. “And I don’t know if that’s actually necessary.”