Harris memoir shows top Democrats slowed endorsements after Biden's exit

Vice President Kamala Harris’s memoir, 107 Days, recounts the days after Joe Biden abruptly paused his 2024 campaign, leaving Harris to navigate a fractured path to the Democratic nomination. The book portrays a spectrum of reactions within the party, with some senior figures offering support quickly and others delaying or avoiding a public endorsement as the party confronted the sudden leadership transition. Harris writes that after Biden posted his withdrawal message on X on July 21, 2024, she began calling top Democrats to gauge their backing as she prepared to position herself for a race against Donald Trump. A handful offered their support immediately, while others did not return calls or signaled misgivings about timing or process.

According to Harris, the conversations with former President Barack Obama included a push to respect Biden’s moment while signaling that Harris would have to earn her path forward. The notes say Obama told Harris, "Saddle up! Joe did what I hoped he would do. But you have to earn it." He and Michelle, Harris said, supported her but would not "put a finger on the scale" and urged patience and careful timing as the former president stepped back to let Biden have his moment. Pelosi likewise stressed process over speed, telling Harris that the nomination should involve a primary-style mechanism rather than an anointment. Harris quotes Pelosi as saying, "I’m so sad about Joe. It’s so tragic. My heart is broken. But now it’s you! It’s important there’s a process, we have a great bench. We should have some kind of primary, not an anointment."

Harris’s notes also illuminate a mixed set of reactions from other party leaders. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders reportedly advised Harris to avoid an exclusive focus on abortion and to emphasize the broader working-class message that dominated his own 2016 and 2020 campaigns. Harris recounts Sanders telling her, "I supported Joe because he was the strongest voice for the working class. Please focus on the working class, not just on abortion."

A trio of prominent Democratic governors likewise resisted immediate endorsement. Harris writes that Gavin Newsom responded with a teasing commitment that he would get back to her, noting, "Hiking. Will call back. (He never did.)" California’s governor was not alone in weighing timing against party logistics: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told Harris that, as host of the Democratic National Committee convention in Chicago that year, he could not commit publicly yet. "As governor of Illinois, I’m the convention host. I can’t commit," he reportedly said. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer offered measured support as well, saying she believed Harris could win but needed space to consult colleagues before making a public statement, according to the memoir.

Not all conversations dampened the sense of momentum around Harris. Some Democratic figures offered clear public endorsements or signaled readiness to mobilize. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton surfaced as examples. Clinton, who had previously counseled party unity, reportedly offered to help Harris in practical terms—whether by joining a team on the ground, traveling to support her campaign, or coordinating messaging. Harris quotes Clinton as saying, "We’re thrilled the president endorsed you. We’ll do whatever we can—we’ll jump on a plane, we’ll get on Amtrak. I want to be part of your war council," underscoring the support some high-profile Democrats were ready to provide once a pathway was clear.

The memoir’s publication coincides with broader political questions about the 2024 race, including concerns that Biden’s mental acuity were under scrutiny in the years leading up to his withdrawal and Harris’s ability to carry a campaign in the absence of an incumbent president. Harris notes that she faced a demanding schedule, a 107-day sprint to define her candidacy, and the challenge of crafting a path to nominating victory when the party’s central dynamic shifted unexpectedly. The book is positioned as a behind-the-scenes account of the race’s final months and the early planning and reactions within the party as it confronted a post-Biden era.

Harris’s memoir is set to be complemented by a book tour as she continues to discuss the 2024 campaign in public settings. Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Newsom, Obama, Pelosi, Whitmer, Sanders and Pritzker for comment on the excerpts and revelations published in the book.

The account in 107 Days provides a window into the internal calculations that accompanied a pivotal moment in Democratic politics. It paints a picture of a party navigating competing instincts about speed, process, and the best competitive path forward in a moment of leadership transition. Harris’s portrayal of these conversations emphasizes respect for Biden’s legacy while asserting a need for a clear, organized road to the primary process and, eventually, the nomination. The narrative also underscores the range of perspectives within the party—from those urging a cautious, process-driven approach to those ready to back Harris with full, public endorsements as soon as possible.

In closing, the author notes that a number of endorsers ultimately joined Harris in support, while others offered measured signals or waited for more clarity on the evolving political landscape. The memoir’s release has sparked renewed attention to the dynamics of endorsement, party unity, and how a campaign is shaped in real time by senior figures and rising leaders alike.