Cornel West, an Independent candidate for president, has accused Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign of attempting to bribe him to drop out of the 2024 race.
West made the allegations during an interview on the Status Coup News podcast, where he claimed that Harris’s team offered him a significant role in her administration and promised to pay off his campaign debts if he exited the race.
West’s presence in the election has posed a challenge for the Democratic Party, especially in swing states where polls indicate his candidacy could pull votes away from Harris, potentially helping President Donald Trump. Despite the pressure, West has remained in the race.
West shared that members of the Harris campaign reached out to him, urging him to support Harris, highlighting the historic significance of her campaign. West, however, rejected their offers, stating that he was not interested in any promises of positions or resources. “That’s not the game I play,” West asserted during the interview.
When pressed by the host on whether a cabinet position was discussed, West suggested that there were in-depth conversations that could have led to such an offer but did not provide additional details. The allegations, if true, could raise serious ethical questions about the Harris campaign’s conduct as the election draws closer.
West has successfully qualified for the ballot in several key states, including Wisconsin, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. A Michigan judge recently ruled that West must be included on the state’s presidential ballot as well. These developments bring to mind past Democratic tactics, such as the alleged attempt to push Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) out of a Senate race during the Obama administration.
