Democratic insiders claim it would be ‘political suicide’ to challenge Kamala Harris: CBS’s Margaret Brennan

“Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan said she was told by Democratic Party insiders that it would be “political suicide” for anyone to challenge Vice President Kamala Harris as a running mate following President Biden’s decision not to seek re-election. on sunday.

Harris emerged as the favorite to receive the nomination following Biden’s announcement that he would not seek another four-year term in the White House.

While covering breaking news Sunday, Brennan, who was in the studio with CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell and chief election correspondent Robert Costa, said there was a virtual consensus “in terms of not seeing a primary challenger with head. .”

“But the question then becomes who is the person standing next to her [at the Democratic convention in Chicago on Aug. 19] to seek the nomination to that vice presidential role?” Brennan said during Sunday’s broadcast. Her comments were reported by Mediaite.

“That’s where the focus is.”

Brennan reported that she was told that “anyone … seeking to challenge her would commit political suicide.”

“Trying to go head-to-head because Joe Biden hadn’t been so key to making it very clear, just within minutes of announcing that he wasn’t going to seek re-election, that he was supporting him,” Brennan said.

“So that’s what we’re looking at right now.”

Polls show Harris trailing Republican nominee former President Donald Trump in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup.

CNN’s Jake Tapper reported Sunday that sources close to Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV), who left the Democratic Party and officially registered as an independent, was considering re-registering as a Democrat “and throwing his hat in the ring.” .

But Manchin told “CBS Mornings” on Monday that he would not seek the nomination against Harris, although he called for a “mini-primary” to choose the nominee.

The latest on President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race:

“I think a lot of people would like to see a mini-primary,” Manchin said.

“That’s the process – find out if you have the strongest candidate, whether it could be Kamala or whoever.”

Manchin told CBS Mornings that he “absolutely” thinks Harris is too far to the left and that he “would like to see a change of direction.”

The retired West Virginia senator said he’s “basically talking about the middle of this country,” adding, “no party can win without the sane, moderate middle.”