Harris criticizes Biden for ‘unnecessary’ pre-debate phone call 

Former Vice President Kamala Harris recently opened up about a phone call that still lingers in her mind — one that happened right before she stepped on stage to debate Donald Trump.  

She shared the story on “The Diary of a CEO” podcast, saying that moment helped define her “complicated” relationship with Joe Biden. What was supposed to be a pep talk from the former president turned into something else entirely.  
 
“He went on to talk about a group of people in Pennsylvania who were saying bad things about me, because they heard I was saying bad things about him. And when I hung up the phone — it was just unbelievable, and yes I was angry. Just deeply disappointed”  

Now imagine that — you’re about to go toe-to-toe with Donald Trump on live television, and your predecessor’s biggest concern becomes whether you like him. That’s not exactly the pre-game energy you want heading into a political heavyweight match.  

Harris explained why that call hit wrong.  

“There were only two people in the world that other than me that have debated this guy. Hillary Clinton and him. And you know what it’s like, going into a debate with the stakes being that high and Trump hadn’t agreed to another debate. The stakes were so high.”  

She described the moment as “so unnecessary.”  

And she’s right — timing matters. Especially in politics, when every second is an opportunity to either gain ground or lose momentum. The last thing any candidate needs before a national debate is a lecture about gossip in Pennsylvania.  

This story came up as Harris promoted her new book, “107 Days,” where she reflects on her short-lived 2024 campaign, her frustrations with Biden, and the lessons she’s still processing. She says she and Biden remain friends; he even called for her birthday. But she admits there were times when he angered her.  

Harris also hints she might not be done with politics just yet. She’s open to running again — though 2024 clearly left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Democrats. Garry South, a Democratic strategist, told The Hill the book shows she’s “blaming everyone but herself for her loss.”  

In “107 Days,” Harris writes, “Of all the people in the White House, I was in the worst position to make the case that he should drop out. … He would see it as naked ambition, perhaps as poisonous disloyalty, even if my only message was: Don’t let the other guy win.”  

And that right there — that tension between loyalty and leadership — is what defines so much of today’s Democratic struggle. Harris isn’t wrong for feeling frustrated. But if 2024 taught us anything, it’s that frustration doesn’t win elections: connection does.  

While I believe Kamala ran a solid campaign with the short time she had, I can still critique that she leaned on star power more than she spoke to the average American. Democrats can’t afford to keep fighting ghosts of campaigns past. And they certainly can’t afford to continue bringing Biden up at every turn. The future depends on authenticity, not applause.  

At the end of the day, blaming Biden won’t fix the Democratic message. As I always tell my Republican friends, finger-pointing might win arguments, but it doesn’t win votes. 

Lindsey Granger is a NewsNation contributor and co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising.” This column is an edited transcription of her on-air commentary.