Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) believes the United States is ready to elect a woman of color to the highest office in the land.
Harris made the declaration while visiting The View on Tuesday to discuss her memoir The Truths We Hold: An American Journey, reports The Hill.
When co-host Sunny Hostin asked the California senator if the time was right for a president who happened to be a woman of color, Harris expressed faith in the American people.
"Absolutely. Listen — I’m not saying that about myself, but I am saying that about the capacity of the American public,” Harris said. "We need to give the American public more credit. Give the people more credit. They are smarter than that."
Harris wasn’t as forthcoming when Whoopi Goldberg asked if she would be announcing her presidential campaign soon.
“Apparently you said you were going to make a decision after the holidays as to whether you were going to run for president,” Goldberg said. “So I’m supposed to ask you, are you running?”
“So I’m pleased to announce on The View that I’m not ready to make my announcement just yet,” Harris answered coyly.
Rumor has it there will be an announcement soon, however. The San Francisco Chronicle reports Harris intends to make the announcement on January 21 during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Harris also took time to offer some words of encouragement to two of her newly sworn in colleagues.
The junior senator applauded rookie congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) for her passion.
“I think she is introducing bold ideas that should be discussed. And I think it’s good for the party. I frankly think it’s good for the country," Harris said. "Let’s look at the bold ideas, and I’m eager that we have those discussions. And when we are able to defend the status quo, then do it. And if there’s not merit to that, then let’s explore new ideas."
Harris also stuck up for Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib (D) when conservative co-host Meghan McCain brought up Tlaib's now-infamous “impeach the motherf***er” quote, which the freshman representative made in reference to President Trump.
“Honestly, my candid response is that she’s not the first nor will she be the last elected person to curse in public,” Harris said.
Striking a conciliatory note, Harris added, “People are feeling very passionate right now in our country, and they’re expressing those views in a variety of ways. I also do believe that in the passion, what we also do have to check, as a separate matter, is that there are also very … powerful voices in our country that are sowing hate and division among us. And we also need to check that.”
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