Former DNC chair: Kamala Harris ‘would be strongest candidate’ in presidential election

I want to bring in our ABC political contributor Donna Brazil now Donna what is your reaction to this news you have been talking to Democrats within the party as they have urged President Biden to step aside what is your reaction to the president finally making this decision of course I'm s because I respect Joe Biden and I Was preparing as I did in 2020 to support the Boton Harris ticket Joe Biden is an honorable man uh as he's done throughout his entire career he made a decision that is best for our country so I know the Democratic party will come together at the convention and our ticket which will be led by KLA Harris will win in November Don I want to ask you because perhaps no one knows the rul is better than you when it comes to the convention how can this all play out there are questions about whether or not this is going to be an open convention how messy could this process be what will it look like well I've always said my short hand was part A was bidon Harris Part B was Harris and her running mate part C would be an open convention where Harris would likely have to go and get the delegates that she has earned remember these are bod and Harris delegates and she will have to ensure that she has the requisite number uh to secure the nomination um I know the the vice president I know that she uh would be the she would be and is the strongest C candidate she's been battle tested battle scarred she knows the job and knows the pressures of a national campaign um and that you cannot teach to anyone on the spot she knows how to make a case and is ready to take on former president Donald Trump and you know I think she can really lean into this thing about Vision the vision for the country U making sure the people who work hard can get ahead that our basic rights are secure and everyone including the president of the United States plays by the rues so I'm looking forward to this campaign again my heart is heavy for Joe Biden who I've known for over 37 years he has been a an amazing president he's a phenomenal man a good man and I'm sure after the president you know said his prayers because he's a man of deep Faith uh and throughout this past weekend I just been praying that he feels better get through CO as we prayed when President Trump got covid several years ago so I know the president is a good man and I'm looking forward uh to helping in any way I can uh secure the nomination for KLA Harris how confident are you that this would be a smooth process that plays out though at the convention Donna well look I cannot speak uh I just got off a call uh we just certified over 4,000 Americans to come to our convention uh yes I'm a member of the DNC but I'm also on the credentials committee so it was my great honor today to certify this was my first opportunity in my political career to serve on the credentials committee and it comes 60 years after fainy Lou hmer came to Atlantic City and was begging for a seat at the table today we are going to make sure that no American is turned around that everybody who has been involved in this process all 14 million Americans plus will have a seat at the table in 29 days in Chicago Donna let me ask you because obviously the party was very divided on calling on the president to step aside as of just before the president made this announcement we heard from 40 Democrats calling on the president to step aside and drop out of this race do you believe that this is a party that would rally behind vice president kamla Harris the vice president that the president himself has now endorsed in this race and what is your message to those who may not think that she is the best fit well first of all anybody who would like to step up today tomorrow maybe next week I hope not too long um KLA Harris is is ready I I said that I say that because she has been out there all throughout this year campaigning from Michigan to Florida just the other day to North Carolina she's she was out in the west coast uh she's ready she is ready as I mentioned she is battle scar but she's also battle tested she knows the job and she knows the pressures of a national campaign you can't teach that so she's going to make a case to the delegates she's going to make the case to the American people and she is going to ensure that the Democratic party is ready to take on the party of Donald Trump she can lean into the fight that we've been discussing whether it's on making sure that America is safe and secure to creating the kind of uh you know 20 first century infrastructure that her the president and and vice president Harris have been working on this is a great this is a great opportunity for the American people to see how democracy works the president of the United States said basically in his letter I'm ready to pass the torch I'm ready to see a new generation and he did that and I'm proud of Joe Biden for his courage and his tenacity Donna brazelle thank you so much