Former Vice President Kamala Harris found herself in a tight spot during a recent interview on MSNBC with Rachel Maddow. The September 22 conversation veered into uncomfortable territory when Maddow pressed Harris about why she didn’t choose Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, as her running mate for the 2024 election. This discussion comes amidst growing speculation about potential Democratic tickets for the 2028 presidential race, with a Kamala Harris-Pete Buttigieg duo being a popular suggestion among some party insiders.
Buttigieg’s support within the Democratic Party has demonstrated significant limitations, particularly among African American voters—a crucial demographic for building a winning coalition. His lack of appeal among this group complicates any considerations for a future partnership with Harris. This difficulty lies at the intersection of two key Democratic voter bases: the LGBTQ+ community, which Buttigieg represents, and African American voters, who have consistently shown loyalty to Democrats but remain cautious about Buttigieg.
In her book, Harris attempted to address her hesitations about Buttigieg’s viability on the ticket. She expressed doubt about how “the American people” might perceive Buttigieg, indicating that he might come across as “too effeminate.” She stated, “But we were already asking a lot of America: to accept a woman, a Black woman, a Black woman married to a Jewish man. Part of me wanted to say, Screw it, let’s just do it. But knowing what was at stake, it was too big of a risk.” While she claimed in her book that Buttigieg was in agreement with her sentiments, he responded with apparent surprise over her recounting of the discussion, raising questions about the accuracy of her memory.
Maddow, in her interview, challenged Harris on her remarks, particularly regarding how they might suggest prejudice against Buttigieg based on his sexual orientation. She emphasized the complexity of suggesting that a historic figure like Harris—who made history as the first female Vice President—would feel hindered because her prospective running mate is gay. Harris, visibly uncomfortable, insisted she did not claim that Buttigieg’s sexuality would disqualify him from the ticket.
“No, no, no, that’s not what I said, that he couldn’t be on the ticket because he is gay,” Harris asserted, appearing flustered and defensive. Her follow-up explanation included a lengthy commentary about the political stakes surrounding her candidacy, saying, “To be a Black woman running for president, and as a vice presidential running mate, a gay man. With the stakes being so high, it made me very sad. But I also realized it would be a real risk.”
Further emphasizing her advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, Harris added, “You know, I’ve been an advocate and an ally of the LGBT community my entire life. So it wasn’t about any prejudice on my part, but we had such a short we had such a short period of time. And the stakes were so high.”
This exchange encapsulated the challenges Harris faces as she navigates the complexities of identity politics and electoral strategy within a divided party. As speculation mounts regarding her position and choices moving forward, it remains unclear whether she can reconcile the various factions she needs to unite to secure any future success.
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