Independent left-wing presidential candidate Dr. Cornel West made a striking claim on Friday, alleging that Kamala Harris’s campaign offered [1] him a position in her potential administration and financial assistance to cover his campaign debts if he withdrew from the 2024 race.
BREAKING🚨: Cornel West just confirmed that the DNC offered to pay his campaign debts and give him a job in the administration if he dropped out and endorsed Kamala Harris. pic.twitter.com/tzfuNdEuWI [2]
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) August 28, 2024 [3]
West revealed this in an interview with independent journalist Jordan Chariton on the Status Coup News [4] podcast following the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
During the interview, Chariton inquired about the offers West reportedly received, specifically asking for details on what was proposed in exchange for his withdrawal from the race.
West responded by stating that several individuals had approached him, urging him to align with Harris’s campaign.
He said they framed it as a historic moment, particularly for the Black community, but West made it clear that he was not interested in their proposals.
“You can offer resources or position or what have you — that’s not what I’m all about. That’s not the game I play,” West stated, rejecting the notion that he would drop out for personal gain.
Chariton pressed further, asking if West was offered a position in a potential Harris administration or financial incentives to pay off his campaign debt.
West confirmed that there were indeed offers made but chose not to divulge specific details.
When Chariton suggested that the position offered was likely something substantial, West responded with a laugh, indicating it wasn’t as high-ranking as Chariton might think.
Cornel West says Democrats offered to pay off his campaigns debt along with a position in Harris’s administration if he were to drop out and endorse Harris.
If Democrats were willing to work with Cornel West why did they refuse to work with RFK Jr? pic.twitter.com/JRiVjvzhR6 [5]
— End Tribalism in Politics (@EndTribalism) August 26, 2024 [6]
“Well, they offered serious, substantive conversation about all of those that could lead toward some real [unintelligible],” West added, indicating that the offers included discussions of a possible role and financial support, though he declined to elaborate.
This revelation has added another layer of complexity to an already tense Democratic primary season.
West, who has been vocal in his criticism of both major parties, has attracted attention for his staunch anti-Israel stance and for holding an antisemitic banner during a march in October.
His candidacy has caused concern among Democrats, particularly Harris’s campaign, which fears that West could siphon off left-wing votes in key swing states, potentially benefiting former President Donald Trump.
In response to these concerns, Democrats have been actively pursuing legal challenges to keep West off the ballot in several states.
Despite these efforts, West’s campaign announced on Tuesday that it had successfully defeated challenges to its ballot access in Wisconsin and Michigan.
The campaign confirmed that it had secured the necessary signatures and minor party nominations to be on the ballot in 18 states, including crucial battleground states such as Michigan, Georgia, Minnesota, Florida, Wisconsin, Virginia, and North Carolina.
The alleged offer from Harris’s campaign to West echoes a similar incident from the Obama administration, where the White House was accused of attempting to convince Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) not to run for Senate in Pennsylvania. At the time, Republican-turned-Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter was seeking re-election, and the Obama administration wanted to avoid a primary challenge.
Initially, the White House denied any quid pro quo but later admitted that former President Bill Clinton had been used as an intermediary to offer Sestak a job in exchange for his withdrawal from the race.
As the 2024 election season unfolds, West’s accusations against Harris’s campaign are likely to further complicate the dynamics within the Democratic Party.
The impact of these allegations, coupled with West’s continued presence in the race, remains to be seen as both parties prepare for the general election.
Watch the full interview below: