Kamala Harris brushes aside concerns over Biden's age by saying he is 'very much alive'
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
- Kamala Harris says she isn't perturbed by concerns over Joe Biden's age.
- Harris told 60 Minutes' Bill Whitaker that she doesn't "have time for parlor games."
- Biden, 80, announced in April that he is running for reelection.
Vice President Kamala Harris says she isn't bothered by peoples' concerns about President Joe Biden's age.
Harris, 59, made the remarks during an interview with 60 Minutes' Bill Whitaker. During the interview, which aired on Sunday, Whitaker asked Harris why donors seem to be skeptical of her electability if Biden, 80, were unable to see through his reelection bid.
"Well, first of all, I'm not gonna engage in that hypothetical, 'cause Joe Biden is very much alive and running for reelection," Harris told Whitaker.
When pressed by Whitaker, Harris said she doesn't pay attention to speculation.
"I hear from a lot of different people a lot of different things. But let me just tell you, I'm focused on the job. I truly am," Harris said.
"Our democracy is on the line, Bill. And I frankly, in my head, do not have time for parlor games, when we have a president who is running for reelection," Harris continued. "That's it."
Whitaker also brought up former President Donald Trump's performance in campaign polls. Recent polls have projected a tight race between Biden and Trump.
"When the American people are able to take a close look, at election time, on their options, I think the choice is gonna be clear. Bill, we're gonna win," Harris said.
"Let me just tell you that. We're gonna win. And I'm not saying it's gonna be easy. But we will win," she added.
Biden announced in April that he is running for reelection, urging voters in a video announcement to let him "finish the job."
However, concerns have arisen over Biden's age. If Biden does win and fulfill a second term, he will be 86 when he leaves the Oval Office. Biden has acknowledged these worries.
"I think it's a legitimate thing to be concerned about anyone's age, including mine. I think that's totally legitimate," Biden told MSNBC's Jonathan Capehart in an interview in October 2022. "I think the best way to make the judgment is to watch me. Am I slowing up? Am I going at the same pace?"
The matter of Biden's age has cast a spotlight on the electability of his running mate. Harris, who is the first female vice president in US history, has faced ups and downs since taking office.
Besides dealing with high-profile staff turnover during her early days as vice president, Harris also faced criticism from Republicans over her handling of the migrant crisis at the US-Mexico border.
Biden has defended Harris' performance. During an interview with MSNBC in May, Biden said Harris "hasn't gotten the credit that she deserves."
Representatives for Harris did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.