On Wednesday, Biden told reporters that “of course I would” consider Harris.

Asked whether he bore any hard feelings against her, Biden said he didn’t.

“I’m not good at keeping hard feelings,” he said before staff whisked him away to another event.

Biden isn’t just being sentimental in mentioning Harris as a possible vice presidential pick. Harris’ withdrawal from the race has angered progressive activists and other Democrats who note that, despite the once-historically diverse field of candidates, no person of color is set to take the debate stage later this month.

Biden’s advisers have long acknowledged that their candidate, a 77-year-old white man, would probably need a woman of color to help balance out his ticket. Before he even announced his candidacy, some allies suggested that Biden pick Stacey Abrams, the former Georgia gubernatorial candidate. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Biden surrogate, has been quietly mentioned as a possible running mate, as has Harris.

About an hour before his Wednesday event, during his first remarks of the day on his multi-city “No Malarkey” bus tour of Iowa, Biden told the crowd that Harris would be missed on the campaign trail.

“We lost a really good one, the senator from California,” Biden said. “She is capable of being president or vice president or on the Supreme Court or attorney general. Her capacity is unlimited.”