Former Vice President Kamala Harris was forced to face reports about other Democrats rebuffing her campaign help this midterm cycle.

While paying tribute to feminist activist Gloria Steinem Thursday on MS NOW, “State of Play” host Peter Alexander asked the 2024 presidential candidate about a Politico story citing a range of Democratic candidates in red states and rural areas who want her to stay away from their races or have flat-out rejected her endorsement offers.

Harris responded, “Listen, Peter, we need to win, OK? Bottom line, we need to win. I have run locally, I’ve run for statewide office, and obviously nationally.”

Though she made sure to highlight her campaign credentials, the California-bred politician said she’ll defer to the candidates who “know what they need to do to win, and I would expect nothing less.”

Either way, Harris said, electing Democrats who will curb President Donald Trump and the Republican Party’s power is her main goal.

She told Alexander, “I look forward to being on the trail and helping folks where I can be helpful, but we have got to put a check on this lawless administration and deliver what Americans need and deserve: lower costs, affordable healthcare, affordable childcare, you name it. So I support them in doing whatever they need to do to win.”

Sources both on and off the record in the Politico piece said they wanted to focus on local politics and weren’t interested in any assists from national-level Democrats.

Senate nominee Adam Hamilton, a Kansas Democrat, put things frankly for Politico, saying, “Having somebody from California come in and try to tell Kansans who they should vote for is a pretty bad idea.”

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