VP Harris has no regrets about endorsing Biden's intellectual ability

Vice President Kamala Harris is standing by her past defense of his intellectual acuity even as she runs to succeed President Joe Biden.

The vice president and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee was asked by CNN if she had any regrets about defending Biden's intellectual ability amid a wave of skepticism after the first presidential debate.

“No, not at all,” Harris told CNN reporter Dana Bash.

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Harris rose to the top after Biden suffered a disastrous defeat in a debate with former President Donald Trump in June and dropped out of the race last month.

During the debate, where Biden repeatedly stumbled and lost his train of thought, some of the president's traditional Democratic allies joined conservatives in raising warnings about Biden's mental ability and age.

The vice president publicly endorsed Biden amid a media frenzy, securing Biden's endorsement just minutes after his own campaign call ended.

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Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris listens to running mate Gov. Tim Walz speak during a visit with marching band members at Liberty County High School in Hinesville, Georgia. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Ms Harris avoided answering a question about whether Mr Biden had initially supported her to run in his place when he announced he was dropping out of the race amid growing concerns about his mental health.

“What about the recommendation? Did you ask for it?” Bash asked Harris.

“He's made it clear that he supports me,” Harris responded.

“So when he called and told you, he said, 'I'm dropping out of the race, but am I endorsing you?'” Bash pressed Harris.

“To be honest with you, my first thought was not of myself. To be honest with you, my first thought was of him. I think history will show many things about Joe Biden's presidency. I think history will show it has been transformative in many ways – the investments we've made in America's infrastructure, the investments we've made in a new economy, new industries, what we've done to bring our allies back together and be confident as America and expand our alliances, and what we've done to stay true to our principles, including the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is one of the most important international rules and norms,” ​​she said.

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President Biden sits on the beach at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, Delaware. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

The highly anticipated interview was Harris' first in 39 days since she became the presumptive nominee. The pre-recorded interview, which aired on CNN Thursday night, was joined by Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Harris has largely avoided contact with the media since becoming the Democratic nominee, rarely answering media questions during the campaign and not holding press conferences.

Biden has spent much of the past two weeks vacationing at coastal homes in California and Delaware.

Fox News' Emma Colton and Matteo Cina contributed to this report.