All eyes on Kamala Harris as her name is floated as potential Biden replacement

Reality check: Biden has not signaled he's stepping down as concerns about his age and ability have skyrocketed following his poor performance in June's debate against former President Trump.

• Yes, but: Harris would be an obvious replacement due to endorsements, money, optics and 2028 politics, according to Allen and VandeHei, citing top officials.

Flashback: Harris got her start in part thanks to former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, known as "the guy that put her right in the ballgame."

• Brown catapulted Harris into the public eye in the mid-90s when he appointed her to two state commissions.
• The two were dating at the time, but broke up before Brown's mayoral inauguration in January 1996.
• Still, Brown supported Harris' political ambitions, including her successful 2003 campaign for San Francisco district attorney.

Between the lines: Some of Harris' political success can also be attributed to her wealthy contacts in Pacific Heights, where she kicked off her DA campaign, Politico reports.

• By the end of 2002, Harris had raised about 23% of her $100,560 in campaign funds from Pacific Heights donors.

• Having maintained her relationships with San Francisco's wealthy class over the years, in March she made a fundraising stop at the Pac Heights mansion of Oracle heiress Nicola Miner, The San Francisco Standard reports.

The vice president, meanwhile, has continued to garner Brown's support, who in 2021 told the Los Angeles Times that she would one day be president.

• "Her future is the presidency," he said. "Period. She's that able. That smart. Really a much more clever politician than most people think."

What to watch: Whether Biden, who recently insisted "no one's pushing me out … I'm not leaving," changes his tune.