Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign has reportedly maintained distance from President Joe Biden on the campaign trail, signaling a shift in strategy as the 2024 election approaches.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Joe Biden’s presence has been notably absent from the campaign trail alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, as recent reports suggest that Harris’s team has been reluctant to bring him into the fold during the critical stages of the 2024 race. According to sources, Harris’s campaign has shown hesitance in engaging with Biden’s team about opportunities for joint appearances, resulting in a strategic distancing between the two.
Three individuals familiar with the situation revealed to Axios that the Harris campaign has repeatedly indicated they would coordinate with Biden’s aides about potential events, but those plans have yet to materialize. “It’s like a slow-moving break-up,” one source told Axios. “They respect him, but they don’t see the benefit of tying their candidate to a president whose approval rating remains low.”
The concerns about Biden’s popularity have been underscored by recent data. According to the FiveThirtyEight average, Biden’s approval rating sits at 39 percent, raising concerns among Democrats about the impact of his involvement on Harris’s campaign. “He’s a reminder of the last four years, not the new way forward,” a source close to the Harris campaign told Axios, referencing Harris’s emphasis on a fresh direction for voters.
This strategic distance comes at a time when Harris is locked in a tight race with Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. With less than two weeks until Election Day, an NBC News poll indicated that only 25 percent of voters believe Biden’s presidency has positively impacted their lives, while 45 percent feel his time in office has caused harm. Conversely, 43 percent of respondents viewed Trump’s previous presidency as beneficial to them and their families, compared to 31 percent who felt it was detrimental.
Despite the Harris campaign’s apparent caution regarding Biden’s role, both Democrats and members of the President’s staff have tried to tread carefully around the sensitive nature of this dynamic. Sources close to the situation noted that there is a conscious effort to respect Biden’s contributions while acknowledging the need for Harris to carve out her own path as a candidate. This balancing act has left the President, now 81, with a limited role as the election draws near.
Currently, there are no joint events planned between Biden and Harris. As the Vice President pushes forward with her campaign in this final stretch, the decision to distance from Biden’s tenure appears to reflect the challenges of managing a complex political landscape and voter perceptions as they head to the polls.
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