In a recent podcast, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, of Texas, speculated that President Joe Biden might nominate Vice President Kamala Harris to serve on the Supreme Court to "get her out of the White House," The Hill reports.
While Biden has promised to nominate a Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, Harris is not among the half-dozen names being floated as potential nominees to succeed the retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.
That hasn't stopped some Republicans, however, from speculating about a Harris pick.
"Look, the Democratic Party is very worried that she's the presumed successor to Joe Biden because her political negatives are so strong," Cruz told co-host Michael Knowles on the podcast "Verdict."
"I think there is a chance they nominate Kamala to the court in part because they can't stand he, and one of the virtues of naming her to the court is they get to get her out of the White House," he said.
Biden's low approval ratings have been celebrated by Republicans, who are counting on them to help win congressional majorities in November's midterm elections.
GOP pollster and strategist Frank Luntz said discontent over skyrocketing inflation is the most important issue for voters heading into the midterms, and Democrats are going to pay the price.
"We're not just anxious anymore," Luntz told CNBC. "This country is getting angry when they go to the supermarket, when they fill up their tank. They're going to take that anger out at the ballot box."
At 79, Biden's age has led to speculation that he could choose not to run for reelection, but he has said that he plans to seek a second term.
Though Harris is his most likely successor, her approval rating is also low, and Republicans and some Democrats do not see her as a potentially strong nominee in 2024.
At a two-hour press conference earlier this month, Biden tried to quell speculation about Harris' future when asked if he could "guarantee" she would be his running mate in 2024. The president said, "yes."
Cruz is reportedly considering another presidential run in 2024 and has sought to appeal to the grassroots GOP base.
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