In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Vice President Kamala Harris affirmed her preparedness to assume the role of President if needed. This statement comes during a time of heightened scrutiny surrounding President Joe Biden’s ability to fulfill his duties due to concerns about his age.
Harris confidently expressed her capacity to lead when responding to inquiries about her ability to convince voters of her qualifications.
“I am ready to serve. There’s no question about that,” Harris the Journal when asked about the challenge of convincing voters she’s up for the job.
The Vice President’s remarks were made shortly before the release of a special counsel report that reignited the ongoing debate about President Biden’s age—currently 81—and his mental sharpness. Though Special Counsel Robert Hur declined to initiate charges against President Biden for mishandling classified documents, the language used in his report described the President as an “elderly man with a poor memory.”
This characterization spurred President Biden to defend his mental competency during a press conference, amidst persistent concerns regarding his suitability for running for a second term in office. These concerns are not isolated to President Biden; the poll results from an ABC News/Ipsos survey revealed staggering concerns about age, with 86 percent of Americans believing Biden is too old for the presidency and 59 percent holding the same belief about both Biden and former President Donald Trump, who is 77.
Harris, at 59 years of age, has reiterated her readiness to take on the responsibilities of the presidency, “if necessary,” while concurrently dispelling apprehensions about Biden’s ability to serve as commander-in-chief. She has been critical of Republican commentary on the issue, dismissing it as politically motivated due to their lack of substantive policies.
The Vice President also cited instances of international leaders reaching out to President Biden for counsel as evidence of his continued political acumen. Nonetheless, Republican strategist Scott Jennings remarked that the recent special counsel report makes Harris “an issue in this election,” highlighting doubts about whether Americans perceive President Biden as capable of effectively serving an additional five years.
