White House hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisHundreds of lawyers from nation's oldest African American sorority join effort to fight voter suppression Biden picks up endorsement from progressive climate group 350 Action 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing MORE (D-Calif.) praised former President Obama Thursday, a day after some of his policies were criticized at Wednesday’s Democratic presidential primary debate.

“I have nothing but praise for President Obama. I think he did great work,” she told reporters Thursday. “We talked about the health care system. Many presidents before him tried to reform America’s health care system. He actually got it done.”

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Harris has proposed a health care system that would transition the country to a “Medicare for All” system in 10 years and in the meantime preserve a role for private insurance companies.

On Thursday, she said her platform is only possible because of Obama’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

“My proposal is about taking it to the next step, but with all righteous and due credit to President Obama for putting us on the path where this next step is even possible,” the California Democrat said.

Her comments came a day after she and former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Fox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio MORE clashed over Harris's health care proposal.

Biden attacked Harris for her Medicare for All plan, warning of tax increases and the elimination of employer-based private insurance, continuing a tussle between two front-runners that began in the first debate.

Biden said Harris’s plan “will cost $3 trillion [and] you will lose your employer-based insurance.”

“You can’t beat President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE with double talk on this plan,” Biden added as he went after her, saying she had been veering back and forth on whether to eliminate private insurance.

Harris responded that Biden’s comments were “simply inaccurate” and that Biden’s plan would leave out about 10 million Americans.

“The cost of doing nothing is far too expensive,” Harris said. “We must act.”

The health care exchange is reflective of a party that is becoming more liberal. Though Obama remains broadly popular among Democrats, some progressive activists and candidates have called for a new leader willing to take bolder action.

Biden has campaigned largely on defending ObamaCare, and his more moderate plan would give people the option of a government-run plan but also allow private insurance to remain.

Harris has proposed more aggressive reforms, though her plan still falls short of the ambitious Medicare for All proposed by Sens. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Democratic senators ask inspector general to investigate IRS use of location tracking service MORE (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.).

Talking to reporters earlier, Biden slammed other 2020 rivals for criticizing Obama's policies.