Slate: “Kamala Harris has been the obvious option to be Joe Biden’s running mate for a long time. As my colleague Jim Newell wrote back in March: ‘Kamala Harris is a smart, charismatic black woman with high name recognition who is not old and is qualified to serve as president on Day One, and while she is not of ‘the left,’ per se, her politics are muddled enough to not come across as a concerted middle finger to the left.’ These are all compelling points!”
“My addition to this list is: Kamala Harris has achieved the ideal stature for serving as vice president, a job that is not as big of a deal as everyone is making it out to be right now. Her elevation to the office would be neither above her nor beneath her, and it would neither put strain on a Biden administration nor weaken her party’s overall political position.”
“Harris never really nailed it as a candidate for president herself. She didn’t figure out a cohesive enough agenda or story that could carry her campaign, and after a promising if overhyped start, she fizzled. But even lacking a grand vision, Harris still had her moments during the primary. She frequently gave strong debate performances, including, yes, the night that she eviscerated Joe Biden for his position on busing. She’s quick on her feet and can be a forceful and compelling presence.”