Some analysts are under the impression that President Biden is undermining Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign due to resentment stemming from his forced withdrawal from the re-election race.
Since July, Biden has only endorsed Harris but has not actively supported her at campaign events, often overshadowing her with his own appearances. Tensions have reportedly risen between Biden’s and Harris’ teams, as she tries to balance loyalty to him with her campaign goals.
Numerous critics have argued that Biden’s actions are reflective of his resentment over how he was treated during the primary process.
“Biden is intentionally enacting revenge on Kamala for knifing him in the back,” Republican political strategist Jason Meister said.
“He never liked her. The happiest he’s looked in four years was when he put a red [Trump 2024] hat on after speaking with Shanksville, [Pa.] firefighters [last month] on 9/11. He should just come out and endorse Trump.”
“It would be absolutely ridiculous to assume that he has no resentment over how he was treated or how, frankly, he was forced out in what some would describe as a coup,” Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf said.
“Why hasn’t he appeared in places where he could do some good, like parts of Pennsylvania and states that the president has buoyed during his term? Nobody wants to give up being president of the United States – it’s the one job you don’t want to leave,” Sheinkopf added.
“Somewhere deep down inside, in a place that he doesn’t want to admit, I think maybe Joe Biden is actually rooting for it,” former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said. “I think it’s clear that Joe is still bruised by what happened.”
“I don’t think he would have won [a second term], but in his views, and those of his family, they probably think that they were robbed of it,” Ramaswamy added.
“Harris doesn’t need help sabotaging her campaign because she does that herself every time she speaks without a teleprompter, [but] it’s important to remember there is absolutely no daylight between President Biden and Kamala Harris on policy,” Trump campaign spokesperson Caroline Sunshine said.
“Kamala Harris has said herself she wouldn’t do a single thing differently these last four years, and our campaign will be reminding voters of this fact every day between now and Nov. 5,” Sunshine added.
White House officials have maintained that Biden supports Harris and believes in their shared agenda.
People “seem to have missed” that the President “made clear he was all-in for” Harris “out of the gate when he left the campaign, and has consistently fought for her and praised her leadership to the country,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said.
“He believes fiercely in an agenda that will move us into the future, away from unhinged divisiveness and extreme policies the country can’t afford to go back to, like MAGAnomics and a national abortion ban,” Bates added.
