In a recent revelation, Jonathan Allen, a seasoned political reporter, disclosed that former President Barack Obama was not in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris taking over the Democratic ticket after former President Joe Biden stepped down.
Allen stated that Obama had doubts about Harris's ability to secure a win and was actively advocating for an open primary.
"President Obama absolutely did not think that Joe Biden should continue, according to our sources close to President Obama," Allen shared on MSNBC. He further added, "And he also didnt want Kamala Harris to be the replacement for Biden. He didnt 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, did not have faith in her ability to win the election."
As reported by Fox News, Allen, who is a senior politics reporter at NBC News, and Amie Parnes, a senior political correspondent for The Hill, were on MSNBC to discuss their upcoming book, "FIGHT: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House." The book is set to be released later this month.
Allen further revealed that Obama was reluctant to endorse Harris when Biden decided to step down. "As it turned out, she didnt win, but he was really working against her," Allen stated. It was only five days after Biden's withdrawal and endorsement of Harris that Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama extended their support to her.
Allen also shared an intriguing anecdote involving Congressman James Clyburn. "In one moment, he had set up a phone call with Congressman [James] Clyburn from South Carolina on the day that Joe Biden handed off the baton to Kamala Harris, and Obama had set up a call with Clyburn for like 5:30 that afternoon. And Clyburn thought to himself, this guy is going to try to rope me into the open convention thing, I better get my endorsement of Harris out there fast, so this is a short conversation," Allen said.
Neither Obama nor Harris's offices have responded to requests for comments on these revelations.
The book, as per an excerpt published by The Hill, also sheds light on Biden's insistence on Harris not publicly disagreeing with his administration's policies. The authors, Allen and Parnes, wrote, "But the day of the debate Biden called to give Harris an unusual kind of pep talk and another reminder about the loyalty he demanded. No longer able to defend his own record, he expected Harris to protect his legacy."
The book further reveals that Biden told Harris, "No daylight, kid," during their phone call ahead of the debate. This insistence on unity was met with criticism throughout Harris's campaign, with many believing she should have distanced herself more from Biden's policies.
Harris, however, stated on "The View" that she couldn't think of anything she would have done differently than Biden during his first term. These revelations provide a fascinating insight into the internal dynamics of the Democratic party and the challenges faced by Harris in her campaign.
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