'Excited To Be Out There For Her': NY Gov. Kathy Hochul Touts Kamala Harris' Record, Vows Support

3 months ago

During a press briefing about a new affordable housing development, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) fielded an off-topic question about Vice President Kamala Harris' bid to become president.

Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:

https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript

Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com

Transcript

00:00Yes, of course.

00:01Hi, Governor.

00:02Hi, Henry.

00:03How are you?

00:04So, I was wondering, as a strong supporter of the president, if you got early word on

00:08what was happening or saw it play out like we did, and also, you joined a chorus of Democrats

00:13really rushing to endorse Vice President Harris, seems the vast majority of Democrats have

00:17done so, but not everyone, including Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries.

00:21Do Democrats really need to rally around the vice president right now, and what's your

00:25message to those who have not done so?

00:28My message right now is we are so fortunate to have one of the most transformational presidents

00:34in American history during the time that I was governor of the state of New York.

00:39President Biden's legacy will have a long, long, long-term impact on our state, whether

00:46it's the 50,000 jobs that I work with President Biden to secure for upstate New York at Micron,

00:53to the largest public federally funded infrastructure project in American history with Gateway.

01:00Everywhere you look in the state of New York, Joe Biden had a profound influence, and I

01:05want to thank him on behalf of 20 million New Yorkers who are grateful for his service.

01:10Did not have earlier notice than he gave his staff, I assure you that, but yes, I was proud

01:16to stand with President Biden, and I had said all along, he conveyed he was in it to win

01:21it, and as long as he wanted to be in it, I was next to him, and I'm glad I did that.

01:26Now, I've also said we have an extraordinary vice president.

01:31I know a little bit about being number two.

01:34You're the most qualified to understand what is involved in the role you are expected to

01:39step into if circumstances arise requiring.

01:43So I've worked with her.

01:45I've seen her in New York.

01:46She has been a partner of mine as well, and what I'm so excited about is drawing the incredible

01:53contrast between our expected nominee, Kamala Harris, vice president, and the former president.

02:01I mean, just consider the following.

02:05A prosecutor against a convicted felon, a woman who has stood up for women's rights,

02:14who stands up for women, an individual who abuses women, a person who stands up and supports

02:22democracy, and a person who attacks it.

02:25So this is going to be a campaign for the ages as people get a chance to see the starkest

02:31difference that we've seen in my lifetime.

02:34So I'm excited to be out there for her.

02:37I didn't hesitate.

02:38I speak on behalf of my state, but also will be convening our delegates very soon to talk

02:45about the fact that we have a lot of influence here in the state of New York.

02:49I'd like to point out that our 268 delegates, which I was very involved in selecting, that's

02:56the second largest of delegates that will be at the Democratic Convention, second only

03:00to California.

03:02So we have a lot of clout here, and I wanted to make sure that everyone knew where I stood

03:07within a very short time of President Biden stepping aside, Kamala Harris emerging, and

03:13her decision to continue on the path to the presidency.

03:16With respect to other individuals, we have different roles to play.

03:21I spoke with both leaders, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries.

03:25They also have conferences that they must gather their opinion before they speak on

03:31behalf of two entities, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

03:35That is what is, I'm sure, going on now.

03:36Those conversations are occurring in earnest, whereas I'm a governor, different stage.

'Excited To Be Out There For Her': NY Gov. Kathy Hochul Touts Kamala Harris' Record, Vows Support

Category

Transcript

Recommended