With just weeks left before Election Day, tensions between Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign team and President Biden’s White House staff are reportedly surfacing, according to Axios. Several insiders allege the root of the issue lies in lingering feelings among Biden’s team, still grappling with the president stepping aside for Harris’ candidacy. While they are officially committed to ensuring her victory, their support feels tentative. Some senior aides, it seems, are struggling to adjust to their new roles on the sidelines, creating a sense of disconnection on the campaign trail.
“They’re too much in their feelings,” a close ally of Harris candidly remarked, At the heart of the discord is a perceived lack of coordination. Harris’ aides have grown frustrated, feeling that Biden’s messaging and schedule aren’t always aligned with what’s best for her campaign. For example, just last week, Biden held a last-minute press conference at the White House, coinciding with an event Harris was holding in Michigan. The overlap significantly cut into her media coverage.
The situation only worsened earlier in the week when Harris openly criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for not taking her calls about hurricane relief efforts. Soon after, Biden praised DeSantis, calling him “gracious” and “cooperative,” leaving Harris’ team blindsided by the mixed messaging. According to one source, Biden hadn’t been fully briefed on Harris’ stance before making those remarks.
Adding to the campaign’s challenges, Harris has been laser-focused on addressing economic concerns like inflation, while Biden’s team has been eager to tout other accomplishments such as ending labor strikes and positive job numbers. “The White House is lacking someone in the room thinking first and foremost about how things would affect the campaign,” a source involved in Harris’ campaign explained.
On a more practical level, Harris’ team has been pushing to expand her staff but has encountered roadblocks from the White House, dragging its feet on detailing personnel. Growing unease between Biden campaign veterans and new Harris staffers also involve how key roles are filled. Early debates over whether Biden’s original surrogates would continue their TV appearances, or whether Harris would bring in fresh faces, have fueled further tension.
Nonetheless, much of Biden’s team, especially at the mid-level, is still committed to seeing Harris win. After all, this is hardly the first time a sitting vice president running for office has experienced friction with the current administration. Both Al Gore in 2000 and George H.W. Bush in 1988 faced similar tensions as they vied to succeed their respective presidents.
