Jon Stewart appeared quite taken aback on Thursday when former Vice President Kamala Harris stated that Joe Biden is “more than capable” of serving another term.
During a discussion on Stewart’s podcast, The Weekly Show, Harris expressed regret over not being more explicit about how she differs from Biden in her previous presidential campaign.
Stewart sought to clarify that he wasn’t focusing on the “competence conversation,” but rather the distinction between Biden’s policy goals and her own priorities.
“No, I’m not talking about competence,” Harris responded. “I’m talking about his capability to serve. I believe he is fully capable.”
Stewart raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, and asked, “Really?”
“Yes,” she confirmed.
“Actually, that surprises me, too,” Stewart admitted.
Harris maintained that Biden is fit to serve another term, despite some poor debate performances and noticeable gaffes.
Still, she pointed out a fundamental difference between running for president and actually being president.
“Being a candidate for president is like running a marathon at a sprinter’s pace, all while having tomatoes thrown at you along the way,” Harris explained.
“And being a sitting president doing that—well, that’s really tough.”
However, Stewart remained skeptical, questioning whether someone lacking certain operational capabilities could effectively lead as commander-in-chief.
“It’s hard to convince people that the president may not have the stamina to run a campaign but can govern. Most see the presidency as this marathon where you’re constantly running, facing challenges,” he said.
Harris was on the podcast primarily to promote her book, “107 Days,” which discusses her short-lived presidential campaign.
In the early part of their conversation, she reflected on her decision to support Biden in the upcoming 2024 election amidst concerns regarding his mental fitness.
“I care a lot about him, and I didn’t want to add to the criticism he was already facing. It didn’t seem necessary,” she told Stewart.
“Looking back, I realize I didn’t fully grasp how challenging it was for people to see the differences between us. I thought it was pretty clear,” she reflected. “Knowing what I know now, I probably would have handled things a bit differently.”
