Reports are circulating that President Joe Biden’s staff have been allegedly sabotaging Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign efforts since Biden was pushed out of his re-election bid. Tension between Biden’s team and Harris’ team has reportedly escalated, and sometimes the President’s actions appear to undercut his former running mate, even as the Democratic Party and Biden himself rally behind her for the 2024 race.
Republican strategist Jason Meister believes, “Biden is intentionally enacting revenge on Kamala for knifing him in the back,” noting that Biden has avoided most of Harris’ campaign events and provided only minimal public support.
Amidst this alleged discord, Harris’ team has expressed frustration over the perceived lack of support from the White House. The tension has reportedly strained relations between the two camps, with Harris struggling to balance her loyalty to Biden while presenting herself as a fresh candidate for change. According to a recent Axios report, there are internal disagreements on strategy, and some of Biden’s aides feel sidelined or dismissed.
Some of Harris’ aides claim that White House staffers deliberately do not coordinate Biden’s messaging and schedule to optimize support for Harris’ 2024 campaign. A Harris campaign member noted that no one in the White House is focused primarily on how decisions impact the campaign. Last week, Harris criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for not responding to her calls regarding the relief efforts for Hurricanes Helene and Milton. He condemned her allegations as “politically motivated.” Soon after the attack, Biden commended the Republican governor for being accommodating and collaborative during their discussions.
A White House official refuted the claim, stating that everyone in the administration, including the president, understands the election’s significance. They mentioned that they had anticipated many staff members would want to move from the administration to the campaign for the crucial final phase.
Harris’ team has been attempting to expand the Vice President’s official office to manage the increased workload. Those familiar with the situation report that they are frustrated with the slow progress being made by the White House in assigning personnel for this purpose.
Although the White House has been trying to assist Harris’ team, there has been irritation regarding certain regulations that dictate who can be assigned and the timing of those assignments.
A number of Biden aides have joined Harris’ campaign, yet there are concerns among some that they have been perceived as disloyal by Biden’s team for either leaving or even considering the move.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates defended the Biden administration, telling Axios: “President Biden endorsed Vice President Harris immediately after leaving the race, rejecting other approaches that would divide the party, and has attested to her leadership abilities and continually made clear his support for her.”