MSNBC Contributor Suggests Kamala Harris Might Replace Obama As Most Influential

An MSNBC contributor said at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday that Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris may replace former President Barack Obama as the most influential black politician in the party.

Commentator April Ryan made the remark when she was asked during a segment on the network about the “star power” of having Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama speak on Harris’ behalf tonight at the convention.

“Well, first of all, Michelle Obama is stratospheric. She is an icon. She is authentic,” Ryan said. “When you talk about someone reaching someone, she is Chicago, born and bred, South Side. You can’t get more authentic than that. When she speaks, she speaks to the heart. So let’s go there, and people believe her and feel her. But when you have two people — beyond Reverend Al Sharpton, who I’m sitting right next to — who are some of the greatest orators of our time, you know, people are going to listen.”

“This moment is even larger than when Barack Obama became president,” she claimed. “I remember the night that he was elected, and I happened to be at the White House … and I’ll never forget all the kids who ran to the White House and just a spontaneous crowd, because they saw change. They saw people who are authentic and look like them.”

After continuing to gush about Michelle Obama for another several moments, Ryan commented about the former president.

“And then with her husband, I mean, I joke about this, but there’s Jesus, HBCUs, and then there’s Barack Obama,” she said. “It may change, it may change a little bit if Kamala Harris becomes president. But you know, these are two people people want to hear from, especially right now, as we’ve heard so much about this tension, if you will, these conversations about how to save the democracy that ultimately led to President Biden saying, I’m going to step aside for the sake of the democracy to make sure that we can keep the Republic.”

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WATCH:

MSNBC’s @AprilDRyan: “There’s Jesus, HBCUs, & then there’s Barack Obama [although] it may change a little bit if Kamala Harris becomes president” pic.twitter.com/NTwmV7brkD

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) August 20, 2024