In a deeply partisan political landscape, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has sounded the alarm about the potential oversights Republicans could make regarding Vice President Kamala Harris' bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Cruz emphasized the necessity for Republicans not to make the mistake of underestimating Harris' campaign, following President Joe Biden's recent endorsement of her White House bid, as Fox News reports.

President Biden Endorses Harris

On Sunday afternoon, President Biden announced on X that he would not be seeking reelection, strongly endorsing Kamala Harris as his successor. Biden expressed immense pride in his 2020 decision to select Harris as his running mate and urged the Democratic Party to unite behind her bid to defeat former President Trump in the upcoming election.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” Biden declared.

“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this," he added.

The endorsement speech brought Harris to the stage on Monday, where she publicly commended Biden's service during an event honoring NCAA athletes at the White House’s South Lawn.

Cruz Comments on Podcast

Meanwhile, Cruz delivered his cautious stance during an episode of his podcast Verdict with Ted Cruz. Cruz expressed concern that the GOP might be dismissive towards Harris, potentially viewing her merely as a punchline.

"Republicans, I worry, vastly underestimate Kamala Harris. They don't think very highly of her. They don't think she's terribly bright. When you or I bring up Kamala Harris' name in Republican circles, people laugh. It's immediately a punchline," Cruz warned.

Cruz pointed to the overwhelming media support Harris is likely to receive, factoring in her potential portrayal as a historic candidate.

Media Support for Harris

"I think people are underestimating what billions of dollars of free media, of the entire corrupt corporate media complex, pitching her as a combination of Mother Teresa, Oprah, and Gandhi,” Cruz remarked, urging fellow Republicans to be realistic about the contest against Harris.

Although no official Democratic nominee has been announced yet, Harris appears to be the clear frontrunner with President Biden’s endorsement, awaiting the Democratic National Committee's certification next month.

On the other side, the Republican ticket is set, with former President Trump securing the nomination last week and naming Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his vice-presidential running mate.

Cruz Cautions Against Overconfidence

However, Cruz expressed concerns about the Republican National Convention's atmosphere in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, warning against premature celebration within GOP ranks.

"I was very worried at the convention. … I am afraid people were overconfident at the convention. There was an air of celebration. It was, 'We've won. We're on to victory. This is a landslide. Trump's coming back in. We've got a huge Republican majority,'" Cruz shared, cautioning that such overconfidence could backfire.

Cruz emphasized the hard work still required leading up to Election Day, advising Republicans to celebrate only after securing an actual victory.

Conclusion

Sen. Ted Cruz has been clear in his message: Republicans must not underestimate Vice President Kamala Harris as she vies for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Following President Joe Biden's endorsement of Harris, Cruz has warned GOP members about the perils of overconfidence and the potential for Harris to receive extensive media support.

Cruz’s call to diligently focus on the task ahead underscores the competitive nature of the upcoming election, where both parties are aligning their strategies towards a crucial win in November.