Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on Jon Stewart’s podcast, where she addressed questions about President Joe Biden’s fitness to serve another term. During the conversation, Harris said she believed Biden was “fully competent to serve,” a statement that surprised Stewart.
“I did not want to pile on with all the criticism that he was facing,” Harris said regarding her approach during a period of heightened scrutiny for Biden. When Stewart clarified that his question related more to policy than competence, Harris reiterated her stance. “I’m not talking about competence at all,” she said. “I believe he was fully competent to serve.”
Stewart responded with disbelief: “Do you really? That surprises me, actually.” Harris replied, “I do,” and elaborated on the difference between campaigning and governing: “But there’s a distinction to be made between running for president and being president … Being a candidate for President of the United States is about being in a marathon at a sprinter’s pace, having tomatoes thrown at you every step you take.”
Stewart concluded by questioning this distinction: “I think it’s a hard case to make for people that he didn’t have the stamina to run, but he had the stamina to govern because I think most people view the presidency as a marathon run at a sprint with tomatoes being thrown at you in terms of governance.”
In another exchange from the same episode, Harris attributed her loss in the 2024 campaign partly to limited time. She stated, “I do believe one of the biggest factors that was at play in the 107 days — we just didn’t have enough time.” Stewart challenged this perspective by asking if less time might have produced different results.
The discussion highlighted ongoing debates within Democratic circles about Biden’s capabilities following his performance in debates and subsequent withdrawal from the race.
