Washington, D.C.: US Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed her readiness to lead, addressing mounting concerns among voters regarding President Joe Biden’s age in this election year. The US Presidential polls are slated for November 5, 2024.
Amid increasing scrutiny about her own capabilities as the first in line to the presidency should Democrat Biden, aged 81, be unable to fulfill his duties, the 59-year-old Harris addressed these concerns.
“I am ready to serve. There’s no question about that,” Harris stated in an interview with the Wall Street Journal when asked about voters’ apprehensions concerning Biden’s age and the need for her to prove her credentials.
Harris emphasized her leadership capacity, asserting, “Everyone who sees her on the job walks away fully aware of my capacity to lead.” She stands as the first Black, South Asian, and female vice president in US history.
The interview coincided with the release of a damning special counsel report, which portrayed Biden as elderly and forgetful.
Special counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents concluded that while the president should not face charges, he would come across to a jury as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”
In response to the report, the White House vigorously defended Biden, highlighting the intense pressure he faced during Hur’s interview, conducted the day after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Harris also defended Biden, labeling the special counsel’s report as “politically motivated.”
As Biden’s reelection campaign gains momentum, Harris has assumed an increasingly prominent role, focusing on issues such as abortion, ahead of the November election, where he is anticipated to face a rematch with former president Donald Trump.
With Republicans frequently targeting Harris, polls indicate that the former California senator shares Biden’s challenge of low approval ratings.
