Kevin O’Leary, the well-known businessman and investor from ABC’s Shark Tank, cautioned Democrats over the weekend about potentially misstepping by selecting Vice President Kamala Harris as their presidential nominee. His comments came after President Joe Biden stepped out of this year’s race and backed Harris following a lackluster performance at the initial presidential debate.
During a segment on Fox & Friends Weekend, O’Leary drew a parallel between Harris’ nomination and Hillary Clinton’s in 2016. He remarked, “If Harris loses—and it’s a close call—this will force the Democratic Party to reassess its approach, much like they did after Clinton’s defeat.”
Clinton, the first female nominee for president from a major party, lost the 2016 election to then-businessman Donald Trump despite winning the popular vote. Trump secured victory through the Electoral College, putting him in office with 306 pledged electors.
“Harris has been presumed a frontrunner by virtue of anointment,” O’Leary continued. “If she doesn’t win, the party will avoid this path in the future, as they wasted a chance to explore more candidates.” He acknowledged he wasn’t predicting her loss, but highlighted the risk involved.
Unlike Clinton, who navigated the traditional primary process, Harris didn’t face that challenge since Biden led the ticket during the primaries. O’Leary suggested that had there been a competitive selection process, alternative candidates—like California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, or Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro—might have emerged for the nomination.
“I was shocked they didn’t explore these options,” he said. “It could turn out to be a significant blunder.” Previously, O’Leary has made headlines discussing various issues, including Trump’s legal predicaments, which he argues are politically driven.