DNC chair: Potential Harris challengers have ‘tough hill to climb’ 

Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairman Jaime Harrison said potential challengers to Vice President Harris will have a “tough hill to climb.”

Harrison spoke to Craig Melvin on NBC’s “TODAY” show Tuesday, pushing back on those who said the nominating process to be the Democrat Party’s candidate has not been open and transparent. He also cautioned those thinking about throwing their hats in the ring, saying that the vice president has “tremendous momentum.”

“The process has been fair. It’s been open. It’s been transparent. But if anybody is thinking about running, you’re running against the sitting vice president, who, along with Joe Biden, has worked really hard going across this country building relationships and is probably the most qualified person to be on this ballot,” he told Melvin.

“Look at the energy the VP garnered as it relates to fund-raising,” Harrison added. “I don’t know, for anybody who is thinking about challenging her, that’s going to be a tough hill to climb here.”

President Biden quickly endorsed Harris for the White House after announcing over the weekend his own plans to withdraw from the race. She quickly garnered major endorsements and raised $81 million in the first 24 hours of her campaign.

Harrison responded by saying there would be a “transparent and orderly process” to choose a new nominee. Some Democrats have called for an open DNC convention, even after Biden threw his support behind Harris.

As of Monday night, Harris has secured enough delegates for the Democratic nomination.

Harrison also praised Biden for his work as president and his decision to step down.

“Well, listen, the president — we owe him a tremendous amount of gratitude. He’s a good man. He’s a decent man,” the DNC chief said. “He’s been a transformational president. But what he also demonstrated by stepping out of this race is that he is selfless.”

“He made an assessment was he made an assessment, Craig, that this was the best thing for not only the American people but for the Democratic Party,” he added.