Hillary Clinton was 'exhilarated' to learn Harris would take baton from Biden

NEW YORK — Hillary Clinton says she was “exhilarated” to learn that Vice President Kamala Harris would pick up the Democratic 2024 baton and take a shot at becoming the first woman president.

The trailblazing failed 2016 presidential candidate said she felt a powerful rush of emotions when Harris called on July 21 to tell her that President Biden was dropping out of the race and endorsing her to take his place.

“The dream of seeing a woman in the Oval Office was suddenly back within reach,” Clinton said in an audio epilogue to her forthcoming book entitled Something Lost, Something Gained. “It wouldn’t be me but it could be Kamala. History beckoned.”

The former first lady said her thoughts immediately turned to the chance that Harris could do what she could not by beating former President Trump to win the White House.

“Could we do it? Could we finally shatter the highest and hardest glass ceiling and prove that in American there is no limit to what is possible?” she recalled.

Clinton revealed that she quickly assured Harris that she could count on her and former President Bill Clinton as she worked to line up Democratic support for the nomination.

“She is talented, experienced and ready to be president,” Hillary Clinton said. “So it was an easy decision.”

Hillary Clinton conceded that she had wondered over the years how she would feel if she lived to see another woman have a chance to win the White House.

“Would some little voice deep down inside whisper: ‘That should have been me’?” Clinton asked. “Now I know the answer. I looked at Bill with a huge smile and said, ‘This is exciting.'”

“I felt promise. I felt possibility. It was exhilarating!” she said.

Clinton warned that Harris still has plenty of work to do if she is to turn back the threat of a second Trump presidency. And she acknowledged that racism and misogyny will still pose major hurdles.

But the former secretary of state insisted that plenty has changed in eight years since Trump pulled off a huge upset to end her dream.

Clinton says she firmly believes she will be standing by Harris’ side when she takes the oath of office next January as the first woman and first Black woman president.

“My heart leaps,” Clinton said. “After hard years of division, we are making progress on our long journey to a more perfect union.”