Vice President Kamala Harris was in the middle of a family breakfast, flipping pancakes and frying bacon, when she received a call that would change the trajectory of her political career. President Joe Biden was on the line, informing her of his decision to end his re-election campaign and support her as the Democratic candidate for president.
“My family was staying with us, including my baby nieces, and we had just finished eating pancakes,” Harris recounted in a CNN interview on Thursday. “The kids were asking, ‘Auntie, can I have more bacon?’ and I was cooking more when the phone rang—it was Joe Biden.” The call came on July 21, amid growing concerns about Biden’s age and health, and his ability to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
In a written announcement to the nation, Biden had revealed his decision to withdraw from the race, endorsing Harris to lead the Democratic Party. Harris, who was taken by surprise, shared, “He told me what he had decided to do. I asked him, ‘Are you sure?’ and he said, ‘Yes.’ That’s how I learned about it.”
Since Biden’s unexpected exit, Harris has seen a surge in support and enthusiasm, reinvigorating the Democratic base. She praised Biden’s tenure as president, stating, “I think history is going to show… in so many ways it was transformative.”
Now the Democratic nominee for president, Harris has seen her poll numbers rise, campaign donations increase, and her popularity grow among voters. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Harris leading Trump 45% to 41%, indicating a renewed energy among Democratic voters.
While some critics have speculated that Harris might struggle in unscripted moments, her recent performances in interviews and speeches have been strong, without major mistakes. Addressing economic concerns, Harris defended the administration’s handling of inflation, pointing to the challenges they inherited from a pandemic-hit economy. “We’ve done a lot to lower prices, but they’re still too high,” she acknowledged.
