Kamala Harris Finally Answers the Question: 'Are You Gonna Run for President?'

Stephen Colbert is known for being willing to go toe-to-toe with anyone, and that includes expert politicians who choose their comments ever so carefully. So he wasn't afraid to ask Senator Kamala Harris what everyone is dying to know.

He eased his way into it with absolutely no subtlety whatsoever, as it should be, by showing her book and pointing out, "Many people who put out books two years before a presidential election do so to introduce themselves in a broad way to the American people."

She had a knowing smile on her face as he just put it out there. "Are you gonna run for president?"

While Nodding vigorously and smiling, Harris said simply, "I might." Then she erupted into gales of laughter.

Not gonna lie, that totally sounds like a "yes" to us, but it isn't a confirmed yes, so Colbert tried a different tactic. There have been reports she might announce her candidacy on Martin Luther King Day, so he asked, "Should I keep my schedule open that day?"

Unfortunately, the politician took full control then and she gave the appropriate response that we should always honor Dr. King on his day of remembrance.

Well, since she'd put on her politician hat, Colbert was ready for her in this arena as well. This guy didn't become a cultural icon on "The Colbert Show" by being intimidated to square off against powerful people in important positions.

And Harris didn't mince words, either, when it came to talking about the ongoing government shutdown, now heading into its record-tying 21st day. And her focus was on the hundreds of thousands of government employees who have not been getting paid.

"They're not getting paid because the president of the United States has a vanity project that he doesn't want to give up. It is outrageous, it is irresponsible," 'she said. "These 800,000 people come with families." The impact is widespread, she said, and it's all for a "ridiculous" campaign promise.

"He is now afraid that it will cost him politically if he doesn't follow through on it," Harris added. As for how it might end, Harris knew one thing for sure. "It will not end with a wall."

Colbert followed this up by asking about Trump's ongoing threats to declare a national emergency and try to circumvent the normal government channels to fund and build his wall. "What happens if he does is that the courts will kick in and I'm sure there will be plenty of lawsuits to determine the legitimacy of his exercise of that authority.

"And I think what we all know is it would be an improper exercise of authority, which is something we have seen him do throughout his tenure as president."

You know one way to stop him from doing that? Perhaps replace him in the Oval Office? And Harris sounded positively presidential -- or at least candidate-ial (natch) -- in talking about why she continues to fight for this country and why she believes in its ideals so strongly.

"We are a country that was founded on noble ideals and we all know we've not yet reached those ideals, but part of our strength is we fight to reach those ideals. We are an aspirational country," she said. "The moment that we lose this aspiration to be all the founders said that we should and can be, that's a bad moment.

"But I remain optimistic that this is worth fighting for. Our country is worth fighting for and these ideals are worth fighting for. And if something is worth fighting for, then it's a fight worth having. It's a fight worth having. Period."

Sounds like something one might say while announcing her candidacy for president of the United States of America. Who knows? maybe it was. After all, she did say she "might." And that's not a no.

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