A sense of being left behind has reportedly settled in for President Joe Biden as Vice President Kamala Harris leads the Democratic charge against Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Following a challenging June debate against Trump and subsequent pressure from his party, Biden made the historic decision to withdraw from the race in July, endorsing Harris as his successor.
While Harris secured the Democratic nomination unchallenged, whispers from within the administration reveal a different story. According to twelve sources cited by the Independent UK, Biden feels his accomplishments as President have been overshadowed. The President’s aides describe a sense of “complex” emotions arising from the summer’s events, marked by a perceived lack of recognition for his achievements. He has also expressed concern about Harris’s campaign speeches, which no longer make mention of him.
A campaign official, defending Harris’s approach, told the Independent UK, “We have to tell people who she is and what she would do. There wasn’t a real interest in hearing about [Biden’s] accomplishments when he was running. That’s still the case.” This sentiment was further underscored by a line from Harris’s debate against Trump, which apparently stung Biden. “Clearly, I am not Joe Biden. And I am certainly not Donald Trump,” she stated, emphasizing her distinct leadership style. “And what I do offer is a new generation of leadership for our country.”
The White House, in response to these claims, emphasized the public’s positive reception to Harris’s leadership and her policy agenda. “President Biden welcomes the strong response the American people are having to Vice President Harris’s leadership and to policies that move us into the future, away from dangerous agendas from the past like MAGA-nomics and abortion bans,” a spokesperson said.
Despite the apparent tension, a source close to Harris reassured NBC, “She adores the president. She’s proud of the record that they have.” This statement underscores the complex dynamic unfolding behind the scenes, as the Biden-Harris partnership navigates a transition in leadership and the challenging landscape of the 2024 presidential election.
