Sunny Hostin Revisits 'Problematic' Kamala Harris Answer, Questions 2028 Potential
'The View' co-host recalls a pivotal 2024 election moment where Vice President Harris' response to distancing from Joe Biden was deemed a misstep.
Sunny Hostin, a co-host on "The View," has revisited a prominent moment from the 2024 election cycle where she questioned then-Vice President Kamala Harris about distancing herself from then-President Joe Biden. Hostin described Harris' answer at the time as "problematic" and a missed opportunity.
During an event on Monday, Hostin discussed the interview with Brian Teta, the show's executive producer and host of its "Behind the Table" podcast. Teta highlighted the exchange as a "seminal moment" in the 2024 election. Hostin explained that she had anticipated Harris would leverage her unique background as a woman of color and child of immigrants to articulate her own vision for the White House, rather than reaffirming her connection to Biden, whose approval ratings were low.
"I was not expecting, 'Not a single thing comes to mind.' And I knew honestly when she said it that it was really problematic," Hostin stated, expressing her surprise at Harris' response. She felt the liberal audience of "The View" was the ideal platform for Harris to connect with her base.
In her memoir, "107 Days," Harris acknowledged the impact of the moment, writing that she had unintentionally created a significant challenge for her campaign. She described her staff's immediate reaction and noted that political operatives recognized the gaffe. Harris wrote that she later regretted not using a subsequent opportunity during the broadcast to pivot, as suggested by her staff, by stating she would include a Republican in her cabinet.
The exchange has been noted in post-election analyses and even featured in a political advertisement for Donald Trump. Co-hosts on "The View" have also discussed the implications of this moment for Harris' potential future political endeavors.
During a recent episode of "The View," co-hosts Ana Navarro and Alyssa Farah Griffin questioned Harris' viability as the Democratic Party's nominee in 2028. Griffin suggested that the party might be seeking "new energy" and that Harris' past presidential runs, including her early exit in 2016 and her role as Biden's running mate, might make her a less compelling candidate for 2028.
Joy Behar, another co-host, has previously expressed skepticism about the U.S. electing a woman president, pointing to the electoral outcomes for both Harris and Hillary Clinton. Behar has suggested that a male candidate might be a more strategic choice for the Democratic Party in 2028 to ensure victory.
Hostin herself has previously raised questions about whether the presidency is the optimal position for Harris, even suggesting she might have been better suited for a run for California governor. This sentiment was echoed by some allies who felt she had "squandered her chance."