Harris leans on Clinton as rift with Biden widens during book tour

NEW YORK CITY — Former Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off her book tour in New York City Tuesday, promoting '107 Days,' a memoir about the 2024 campaign. The book, released this week, portrays Harris's experiences on the campaign trail after Biden withdrew in July 2024, and it has drawn attention for its portrayal of tensions within the Democratic ranks.

In the book, Harris critiques aspects of Biden's leadership and the way his team handled negative press, saying aides did little to defend her from unfavorable coverage during her vice presidency. The Clintons, Harris notes, offered early show of support, including plans to campaign together and even ride public transportation to reach voters. Harris recounts a phone call with Hillary Clinton after Biden's withdrawal in which Clinton and her husband, Bill, volunteered to help; Clinton suggested hopping on an Amtrak train to campaign, while Bill told Harris, 'Send me anywhere.'

Harris used the New York Town Hall stage to frame the book around the future of the Democratic Party and to highlight rising stars among Democratic politicians. She reiterated that the memoir focuses on her own experiences and the fight to win, and she cited Clinton's and Bill Clinton's ongoing support since Biden's withdrawal as a sign of the party's resilience. The talk also included anecdotes that Clinton offered to join her campaign, and that Bill Clinton told her he would 'go anywhere' to help.

The event drew a packed house but also drew protests from pro-Gaza demonstrators outside the venue, chanting and banging drums amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Harris insisted the discussion was about the race's closing days and the path forward for the party, arguing that the 2024 contest was among the closest elections of the century and pushing back on the notion that the country is not ready for a woman president. She also attacked Donald Trump, accusing him of lying about costs and portraying him as a threat to the party's future.

Fox News Digital reached out Thursday to Hillary Clinton's office for comment but did not receive an immediate reply.

Former White House staffers had already condemned parts of the book, saying Harris was attempting to scapegoat Biden rather than owning her own missteps. Still, Harris emphasized the book tour is about her personal journey and the campaign's learnings rather than a critique of Biden's leadership.

Looking ahead, Harris said she would continue to lift up 'rising stars' within the party and argue for a broader, more forward-looking Democratic slate, with a focus on rebuilding trust and mobilizing voters in 2026 and beyond.