Kamala Harris Sought the Clinton’s Guidance Before Naming Tim Walz Running Mate

Former Vice President Kamala Harris disclosed in her new memoir that she sought guidance from Bill and Hillary Clinton on choosing a running mate during her short-lived 2024 presidential campaign, as reported by Fox News.

Harris’ book, 107 Days, released on September 23, recounts her experiences leading up to the 2024 election after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. With just over three months until Election Day, Harris wrote that she turned to the Clintons for advice on the critical choice.

“Very few people have ever made this decision. I called Hillary and Bill Clinton, because they knew what it was like and would give me candid and confidential advice,” Harris wrote.

According to her account, the Clintons warned her against what they described as a “political marriage of convenience.” Harris said they encouraged her to pick a running mate whose presence would complement her style.

“One of your strengths, they said, is that you bring a joyful energy to the campaign. You have to choose someone who won’t work against that,” she recalled.

Bill Clinton, reflecting on his partnership with former Vice President Al Gore, advised her to find someone with strengths that balanced her own. “‘You have to level with them and watch how they answer,’” Harris quoted him as saying, describing his approach to vetting candidates.

Harris wrote that both Clintons emphasized that the vice-presidential candidate should understand the weight of the opportunity.

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“If they were someone dying for immediate public recognition, it might not be the job for them. They might have to swallow a lot of crap,” she noted from their conversation.

Harris ultimately selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, describing him as her “happy warrior” on the campaign trail. “I needed to know that my running mate was a person who valued the dignity of everyone and would take a moment to show it,” she wrote.

The decision to choose Walz over other potential running mates, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, was later criticized as a campaign misstep.

Walz faced controversy over allegations of “stolen valor,” his handling of pandemic restrictions in Minnesota, and a debate performance against then-Sen. JD Vance that analysts described as faltering.

Harris’ memoir mentions the Clintons more than a dozen times, highlighting what she called her close relationship with the couple. On September 24, during a book tour stop at The Town Hall in New York City, Harris praised Hillary Clinton for mentoring her.

“Hillary Clinton is one of those people that believes in lifting people up and supporting people,” Harris said.

Harris also described reaching out to the Clintons on the day Biden ended his campaign in July 2024. She said the couple offered to campaign for her, with Hillary Clinton even suggesting she would travel by Amtrak to join the trail.

The book also includes Harris’ critiques of Biden’s failed campaign, including his debate against Donald Trump, which she described as damaging to his reelection bid.

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