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Harris’ Memoir Calls for Democrats to Toughen Up

The book criticizes the party for 'playing by the rules,' recounts her decision not to confront Biden about re-election, and revisits her choice to pass over Pete Buttigieg as VP pick.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris is making headlines with her new book, 107 Days, which takes readers behind the scenes of her short-lived 2024 presidential campaign and offers candid reflections on her party and political decisions.

In the memoir, Harris discusses her choice not to confront then-President Joe Biden about whether he should seek re-election amid concerns about his age and ability to serve another term. 

“Was that grace to not bring it up to him or was it reckless, and on my part, I do reflect on that and feel that it was. There was a recklessness about not raising it with him," Harris said on “Good Morning America.”

Kamala Harris Tells Her Side of the 2024 Race, And It’s Angering Her Democratic Colleagues

Biden ultimately dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris, but her book has sparked mixed reactions within the Democratic Party. Former Obama adviser David Axelrod told Politico, "If there’s a political strategy here, it’s a bad one." Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also weighed in during an appearance on Stephen A. Smith’s radio show, saying, "She's going to have to answer to how she was in the room and yet never said anything publicly."

Harris also offered her opinion on what Democrats should do now. 

In an interview with Rachel Maddow, Harris also said that Democrats should “play fire with fire” regarding the recent gerrymandering moves Republicans have made to suppress votes from the left. 

Harris also shares that she decided against selecting former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as her running mate, writing, "But we were already asking a lot of America: to accept a woman, a Black woman, a Black woman married to a Jewish man. Part of me wanted to say, ‘Screw it, let’s just do it.’ But knowing what was at stake, it was too big of a risk. She added in the interview Maddow, “To be a Black woman running for president of the United States, and as a vice presidential running mate, a gay man. With the stakes being so high, it made me very sad. But I also realized it would be a real risk."

Buttigieg responded with surprise, telling Politico, "I just believe in giving Americans more credit than that."

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