107 Days: Kamala Harris Reflects on a Pivotal Presidential Run
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A look inside Vice President Kamala Harris’ memoir, “107 Days,” revealing behind-the-scenes moments and candid reflections on her unprecedented journey to the presidency.
NEW YORK – Kamala Harris reveals in her new memoir, “107 Days,” that MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell first suggested she run for president in 2020. Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, were dining at a Brentwood restaurant when O’Donnell approached their table. He reportedly told her, “You should run for president.” Harris, then a first-term U.S. senator, writes, “I honestly had not thought about it until that moment.”
The book also details Harris’ surprising initial choice for a running mate. She reveals that Pete Buttigieg was her first preference, not Tim Walz. Harris ultimately concluded that the country might not have been ready for a gay man in the role. She explains the decision: “We were already asking a lot of America: to accept a woman, a Black woman, a Black woman married to a Jewish man.”
“107 Days,” writen with Geraldine Brooks, offers an inside look at the events leading up to and during Harris’ historic presidential campaign. The memoir, published by Simon & Schuster, spans 320 pages and retails for $30.
Inside the Decision to Run
The memoir offers a personal account of the pivotal phone call from President Biden on Sunday, july 21, 2024. Harris was at the vice president’s residence, making pancakes for her grandnieces, when her secure phone displayed “No Caller ID.” Biden, battling COVID-19, rasped, “I need to talk to you” and then, “I’ve decided I’m dropping out.” Harris’ internal reaction was one of disbelief.
Harris describes instances of being excluded or inadequately supported by Biden’s team. Her feelings for the president, initially “grounded in warmth and loyalty,” grew “more complicated over time.” She maintains she never doubted Biden’s competence, even while concerned about his public image. She contrasts him with Donald Trump, writing, “On his worst day, he was more deeply informed, more capable of exercising judgment, and far more compassionate than Donald Trump at his best.”
campaign Moments and Personal Insights
While the memoir captures the energy of Harris’ rallies, some personal anecdotes temper the exhilaration.At one event in Philadelphia with running mate Tim Walz, harris notes that Walz’s height caused his hand clasp to pull up the front of her jacket. She made a “mental note to tell him: From now on, when we do that, you gotta bend your elbow.”
Harris is portrayed as smart, savvy, funny, and tough.Though, her tendency to recite accomplishments can come across as defensive. She remains indefatigable,driven by the belief that winning is essential to saving democracy.
Accepting Responsibility, Seeking Time
“107 days” effectively conveys the difficulty of high office. Harris acknowledges a misstep on “The View” when asked if she would have done anything differently than Biden, responding, “There is nothing that comes to mind.” She realized the remark landed like she’d “pulled the pin on a hand grenade.” Yet, she attributes her loss not to miscalculations but to a need for more time to present her case.
The book, however, falls short for readers seeking inspiration or a blueprint for future endeavors. It feels more like a postmortem than a rallying cry. While it offers an essential portrait of a pivotal moment, the outlook and wisdom many hoped for are largely absent.
