Former Vice President Kamala Harris was “very annoyed” with former President Barack Obama as she sought his endorsement to take former President Joe Biden’s spot on the 2024 Democratic ticket, a new book claims.
Authors Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes said, “Obama’s resistance to her became more puzzling as the hours passed and it became obvious she was well on her way to grabbing the nomination by storm.” A confidant said Harris was “very annoyed” with him. They had plenty of donors and political allies in common. The remainder of the party joined her. Obama was where?
Titled “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House,” the book released earlier this month chronicles how Harris obtained important Democrats’ backing following Biden’s withdrawal from the contest. The writers said Obama didn’t want Harris to run in Biden’s place as he believed she couldn’t defeat Trump.
The book claims Obama talked with Harris over the following two days and discovered he was in a situation where “his actions against Biden and Harris could diminish him in the eyes of Democratic elites.”
Parnes and Allen said that Obama’s reputation for allegiance to the Democratic Party was on the line.
A source close to Obama claimed, based on the book, “there was a little bit of mending that had to be done.”
After Biden had left the contest, Obama waited five days to support Harris. Following some back-and-forth about the ideal method to highlight Obama’s endorsement—with Harris campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon concerned about money—they filmed a video of Harris receiving a call from Barack and Michelle Obama to share online.
Harris had to pretend astonishment and excitement over what should have been a clear support from both Obamas to appear genuine. Striking a compromise on the most basic political action required days of fervent negotiation. The entire picture, including the wording, was meant to show the Obamas as elevated by making it appear as though she was pleading for their approval. This was usual bulls—, according to Allen and Parnes.
Harris, however, placed the most relevance on the appearance of oneness. So the quality and legitimacy of the recommendation took a second seat,” the authors noted.
Harris’s spokesman did not quickly respond to a request for comment.
Allen, who talked to MSNBC on Tuesday about the book, said Obama fought against Harris by attempting to coordinate an open primary.
Our sources close to President Obama stated he certainly did not believe Joe Biden should carry on. “And he also didn’t want Kamala Harris to be the replacement for Biden. He didn’t think that she was the best choice for Democrats, and he worked really behind the scenes for a long time to try to have a mini-primary, or an open convention, or a mini-primary leading to an open convention. He did not have faith in her ability to win the election.”