Kamala Harris just released her own memoir “107 Days.” In it, she provides an unvarnished glimpse into her life on the campaign trail during the run-up to the 2020 presidential election. In this personal reflection, she writes about key moments that guided her path. Along the way, Harris shares a wealth of enthralling anecdotes. They shed light on her feelings about running mate Joe Biden and the interpersonal tensions between their respective campaigns. The memoir reveals the underbelly of what it takes to navigate the intersections of race, gender and political strategy in a fraught, high-stakes space.
On the campaign trail Harris would often tell the story of one fateful debate prep rehearsal where she completely froze on her prepared talking points. Instead of delivering a well-prepared response, she found herself saying, “There is not a thing that comes to mind,” a line that would haunt her campaign. This short scene is a great representation of the intense scrutiny and public pressure candidates are constantly under.
Additionally, Harris reveals that her notes from one exchange simply read: “Hiking.” This scribbly reminder likely doubles as a relic of her efforts to stay focused during the swirling storm that was a presidential campaign. While steering through these trials, she did not ignore the urge to publicly call out her political peers. For instance, she yelled at her television when Minnesota Governor Tim Walz failed to assert himself during a debate, exclaiming, “You’re not there to make friends with the guy who is attacking your running mate.”
Reflections on Joe Biden
Harris provides an unapologetic portrait not only of their campaign, but of Joe Biden’s cognitive state. She admits that Joe, at eighty-one, just got exhausted. This fatigue was evident in no small part through his physical and verbal gaffes. This frank accounting begs the question of what the physical and mental demands of campaigning at an advanced age might do to a person’s performance.
In addition, Harris discusses her impressions of Biden the first time they met. Like any good political strategist, Slaughter remembers when she knew he “wasn’t right”—from the moment he stepped on the debate stage in Atlanta. But as Mullvog’s beautiful memoir makes clear, their relationship was tumultuous. Harris indicates that Biden’s staff went into it with a “zero-sum” mindset, thinking that if she shined, she’d steal his thunder.
In meetings to discuss their next VP candidate, Harris was open to the idea of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. She worried if he would be willing to take a back seat. She chose Minnesota’s Tim Walz as her running mate, focusing from the beginning on the power of partnership to deliver the change we need in their campaign.
Navigating Political Dynamics
In her memoir, Harris dives into the complexities of political friendships, alliances and rivalries. She had a memorable encounter with JD Vance, Trump’s eventual running mate, that she paints as a “shape-shifter.” To be sure, her experiences highlight the grave obstacles put up by opponents in a viciously competitive political environment.
Harris goes into great detail about her eye-opening experiences with other candidates, such as this telling moment with Pete Buttigieg. She felt an immediate kinship with them, their shared experience of being the only representatives of their marginalized communities at home creating an unspoken bond. She said she looked back on their conversations with deep pride and mutual sadness, recognizing the burden of their uniqueness.
In a suddenly unguarded moment, Harris found herself getting a phone call from Biden just hours before her potentially game-changing debate with Trump. The call served as both reassurance and pressure as she prepared to face one of the most critical moments of her political career.
“I had no idea I’d just pulled the pin on a hand grenade.” – Kamala Harris
Harris’s moving the needle Comments like these are the sort of things she knew could be used against her by the Trump campaign. It’s a sobering reminder of the reality of political discourse today, and the very dangerous effects that words can have when spoken in the heat of the moment.
Personal Challenges and Insights
The memoir explores Harris’s struggles on a personal level. Her husband, Doug Emhoff, recently expressed his annoyance at being sidelined during the campaign. He noted that he was given “impossible, shit jobs,” and drove home the point of just how underrepresented families are in national politics.
Harris looks back on her relationship with California Governor Gavin Newsom — although on paper their relationship looked good, in practice their governing styles clashed. A curt text message following a call indicates the complexities of maintaining professional relationships amid political competition.
She candidly muses about the risks associated with representing both a Black woman and a gay man on a national ticket. To her, having the U.S. electorate swallow that kind of pairing was just “too large of a risk.” This shortfall serves as a reminder of the long-lived difficulties surrounding diversity and representation in American politics.
“He would have been an ideal partner—if I were a straight white man.” – Kamala Harris