The contingency planning involved key figures, including Harris’ then-communications director, Jamal Simmons.
Simmons even created a “death-pool roster” of judges in case Harris needed to be sworn into office quickly. Despite concerns from some Democrats about Harris taking over, Simmons publicly suggested Biden step down to pave the way for Harris to become the first female president.
According to Allen and Parnes, while Simmons “never told the vice president about the death-pool roster before leaving her camp,” he demanded to be “notified immediately if something happened to Biden, because he had worked out an entire communications strategy.”
“One veteran operative summed up the sentiments of Democrats who worried they would get stuck with Harris but still wanted Biden out: ‘Well, at least she has a pulse,’” the authors wrote.
