Whitmer on serving as Harris's vice president: 'I'll never say never'
![Whitmer on serving as Harris's vice president: 'I'll never say never'](https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/AP24142598640718-e1720551542182.jpg?w=900)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) said Tuesday she would “never say never” to serving as Vice President Harris’s running mate, if she hypothetically replaced President Biden at the top of the party’s presidential ticket.
Whitmer stressed, however, that she has committed to serving out her term as governor and was not looking for a new job in Washington.
“I have never looked at opportunities in Washington, D.C., with a lot of excitement because I love Michigan. I love state government,” Whitmer said in an interview on ABC's "The View," when asked whether she would run as Harris’s vice president should Biden step aside.
“But, you know, I'll never say never, but that's not something that I am angling for in the slightest,” Whitmer, a co-chair of the Biden-Harris reelection campaign, added. “I made a commitment to serve out my term in Michigan.”
The swing-state governor has been mentioned frequently as a possible replacement for Biden, should he withdraw from the White House race, which he has adamantly maintained he will not do. Whitmer has also expressed frustration at stories that mention her as a possible replacement and, in the interview, reaffirmed her support for the president.
Asked whether Biden is the best candidate to take on Trump, Whitmer said, "I think so, yes. And that's why I'm a co-chair of the Biden-Harris reelection campaign.”
“Whether it's bringing down the cost of insulin or it is onshoring supply chains in the wake of the pandemic, whether it is helping people get back to work and keep more money in their pockets — that’s what the Biden-Harris administration has done,” she added. “He's got an incredibly capable vice president by his side, and we are electing them as a team, and I'm excited about it.”
When pressed to consider a scenario in which Biden does step aside, Whitmer agreed Harris would be the obvious choice to fill his spot.
“She's vice president for a reason,” she said. “And so I think that that would be the natural conclusion, and I would be eager to support her as well.”
Her comments come a day after the Michigan governor defended Biden in a Q&A interview with USA Today, explaining that his busy schedule would be "brutal" for anyone.
At least six House Democrats have called publicly for Biden to step aside, after his debate performance sparked concerns in the party about his standing at the top of the ticket. Many Democrats, however, have doubled down on their support for the incumbent — including leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Date: |
-
CBS News - Top stories
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expects Harris to pick a vice president within a week
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who serves as the co-chair of Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, talks about the search for a vice presidential nominee and where the campaign stands, after President Biden dropped his bid for reelection.21 hr ago -
NBC News - Politics
Cooper withdraws from Harris vice president search
North Carolina Gov. Roy Moore has officially withdrawn from the search for Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate.11 hr ago -
CBS News - Top stories
Eye Opener: Vice President Kamala Harris keeps search open for running mate
The search heats up for Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, days before she's likely to make her pick. Also, new details emerge about the law enforcement failures leading up to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. ...23 hr ago - US Open -
The Hill - Politics
Kelly says Democrats can win his Senate seat if he becomes vice president
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) said he’s confident that Democrats can keep his Senate seat in a special election if he is elected vice president, as speculation rises over who Vice President Harris will choose as her running mate. Kelly told CNN’s Manu ...9 hr ago -
CBS News - Top stories
Whitmer says she's "not a part of the vetting" for Harris' VP pick
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she expects Vice President Kamala Harris will make her VP pick "in the next six, seven days."20 hr ago -
The New York Times - Top stories
The Death Penalty Is Never Fair
The case that a former police detective regrets.3 hr ago -
NBC News - Politics
North Carolina Governor Cooper withdraws from vice presidency contention
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper reportedly informed Kamala Harris' presidential campaign that he does not want to be under consideration as a vice presidential candidate. NBC News' Nnamdi Egwuonwu reports on why Cooper withdrew and the other ...10 min ago -
The Wall Street Journal - Tech
Apple Intelligence: Here's When the New AI Features Come to the iPhone and iPad
The new Siri and other tools won’t be available until iOS 18.1 is released later this fall. This is the timeline.16 hr ago - Apple -
The Wall Street Journal - Tech
Samsung's Net Profit Surges on Strength in Chip Business
Samsung Electronics reported a nearly sixfold increase in second-quarter net profit as the artificial-intelligence boom continues to fuel demand for advanced chips.11 hr ago -
The Wall Street Journal - Tech
I've Been Driving an EV for a Year. I Have Only One Regret.
Range anxiety isn’t a thing, leasing can be a gamble, and other lessons our columnist learned after driving an EV for the past year.11 hr ago
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
Why the CrowdStrike debacle should be a warning to policymakers and Americans
The CrowdStrike debacle has highlighted the potential for cyberwarfare to disrupt and disable critical infrastructure, and the need for a more proactive approach to cybersecurity in order to protect against such threats.35 min ago -
The Hill - Politics
Biden’s Supreme Court reforms will never happen, but they’re still important.
Having a functional Supreme Court is not a political issue any more than having a functioning heart is a lifestyle choice. And while Biden’s current initiative is doomed to fail, it’s the beginning of a life-or-death discussion about the future of ...1 hr ago - Joe Biden -
The Hill - Politics
Morning Report — Secret Service admits slew of mistakes at intense hearing
Glaring security failures by the Secret Service allowed a 20-year-old Pennsylvania gunman armed with an AR 15-style rifle to elude law enforcement even after he was seen on campaign rally grounds and identified as suspicious. He gained access to ...1 hr ago -
The Hill - Politics
Former gubernatorial rival endorses Kari Lake in Arizona Senate race
Karrin Taylor Robson, who ran and lost to Kari Lake in the Arizona governor’s race last cycle, announced she would endorse Lake in her Arizona Senate bid Wednesday. “It is essential that we hold on to the Republican majorities in our state ...1 hr ago -
The Hill - Politics
With democracy in balance, veterans take up new fight at home
Fearful of rising political violence and declining democratic norms, Chris Purdy is organizing veterans to fight both. The former Army National Guard member and advocate for Afghan evacuees this month launched the Chamberlain Network, aimed at ...2 hr ago