[LI] Long before Joe Biden became the Democratic presidential nominee, reports circulated that the then-77-year-old former VP signaled he’d only commit to serving one term if elected. This came after months of Democrats and media figures raised the issue of his age and cognitive health after a series of gaffes and flubs made during the primaries.
Even after he officially secured the nomination, the questions about Biden’s mental fitness to lead persisted. At one point when he was point-blank asked about it by a reporter in early August 2020. Days later, he announced Sen. Kamala Harris as his vice-presidential running mate.
Along with his choice of Harris came the inevitable speculation from Republicans that Biden, who was still made several incoherent statements from the comfort of his basement, would be a mere figurehead if elected. At the same time, Harris would effectively take the reins and officially take them in the event Biden was already making plans to step down after the election.
Such speculation was further fueled by reports from pro-Biden news outlets like CNN, who suggested the reason Biden chose Harris was to have someone ready to step up "if and when" he "decides to step aside."
A month later, both Harris and Biden each talked within a day of each other about a "Harris administration." Harris corrected herself, but Biden did not. Some suggested they’d been caught accidentally saying the quiet part out loud.
Now here we are, a month and a half after Election Day. Literally, just one day after the Electoral College voted to make the victory "official" for Biden and Harris, there are already calls from liberal circles to give Harris a "more important" job than "just the vice president." |