Some Congressional Democrats appear to be having trouble answering what seems like a simple question: Is President Joe Biden’s current vice president his best option for a running mate in 2024?
During an interview on CNN, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) was pressed repeatedly to answer the question, and he instead demurred — even going so far as to suggest, for all he knows, journalist Jake Tapper might be a better option.
Tapper kicked off the segment by playing a clip of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) declining to share whether she believes Vice President Kamala Harris is the best option for Biden. He then asked Raskin what he thought of the clip, and asked if he believes Harris is the best choice.
“There didn’t seem to be anything wrong with that answer,” Raskin responded.
He went on to criticize the “MAGA right,” but Tapper interjected, “You are doing what Speaker Pelosi did, which is not answering the question. Do you think Kamala Harris is the best running mate for President Biden?”
“Obviously, she gave the right answer. That’s President Biden’s choice. And I think [Harris is] and excellent running mate for President Biden, you know, I don’t know what more needs to be said about that. Obviously, people are still trying to throw presidential politics into turmoil,” Raskin said before launching into a list of Biden’s accomplishments.
Watch the video below:
FULL EXCHANGE: Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin refuses — FOUR TIMES — to say if he believes Kamala Harris is Biden's best choice for vice president pic.twitter.com/ogTVKFf3nm
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 14, 2023
Tapper responded, “I’m not trying to throw anything into turmoil. I actually think it’s a pretty simple question. Do you think Kamala Harris is the best running mate for President Biden?”
“I don’t know what else I could say other than she would be an excellent running mate,” Raskin answered.
Tapper interjected, “You could say yes.”
The congressman pressed on, “I don’t know whether President Biden has named his running mate. We’re going to a convention next summer.”
Still, Tapper said, “You could say ‘yes.’ You could say, ‘Yes, I think Kamala Harris is the best vice president, and the best running mate, for President Biden.’ That’s the answer you could be giving right now.”
Raskin told Tapper he had not seen any public polling on the matter before adding, “You might be a stronger vice presidential running mate than her, or me, or anybody else.”