Now she has that chance.
On Sunday, when the president made the extraordinary decision to end his re-election campaign, he made an equally momentous choice: to offer his "full support and endorsement" of Harris to be the Democratic nominee and take on Donald Trump in November.
"It's time to come together and beat Trump," the 81-year-old president said. "Let's do this." The announcement, just weeks before the Democrats formally choose their nominee at the convention in Chicago, has plunged an already tumultuous contest deeper into uncharted waters - while thrusting his would-be successor into the spotlight.
"I am honoured to have the president's endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination," Harris said. "I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic party - and unite our nation - to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda." With just over 100 days until the election, the task before her is monumental. An assassination attempt on Trump has united Republicans behind him, and appears to have strengthened his hand as Democrats dissolved into a debate over Biden's fitness to serve.
The question of who would replace Biden has consumed party strategists and members, leading to an intense public debate over whether Harris would be the strongest candidate to defeat Trump in November.
The US-born daughter of immigrants, Harris spent much of her career as a prosecutor, before becoming California's attorney general. In 2016, she was elected to the US Senate, becoming the first south Asian American and only second Black woman to serve in the chamber, where she distinguished herself by asking tough questions of Trump-era political nominees.
Many of Harris's supporters say she is the heir apparent to Biden.
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