As the Harris-Walz presidential ticket continues to flounder, reports indicate that ostensible President Joe Biden wants to hit the campaign trail in support of his VP.
The only problem: she doesn’t want him. Given his recent disturbing appearances, where he has seemed full of both toxic rage and displayed a complete lack of awareness of where he is at a given moment, it’s no wonder why.
Thanks, but no thanks:
President Biden wants to campaign for Vice President Harris in the last days before the election.
- Harris' campaign keeps responding: We'll get back to you, three people familiar with the dynamic told Axios.
Why it matters: Harris' team believes Biden is a political liability at a crucial time in the campaign — but is reluctant to directly say they don't want him to campaign for her.
Jill has yet to comment:
The Harris team simply views the octogenarian as a liability at this point:
It's the latest example of Democrats, and even some of Biden's staff, tiptoeing around the 81-year-old president's ego and feelings.
One person familiar with the situation compared it to a slow-moving break-up: Harris' team and allies respect Biden's service, but are wary of further tying Harris to the unpopular president on the campaign trail.
Biden's approval rating is 39%, according to FiveThirtyEight's average.
"He's a reminder of the last four years, not the new way forward," said another person familiar with the situation, in a nod to Harris' campaign slogan.
Poling guru Nate Silver said he’s shocked not shocked:
Despite the election being only eight days away, there are no plans from KamalaHQ to allow the doddering shell of a president to be seen with them on the trail:
Driving the news: Biden's team has held days open for campaigning, only for Harris' team to let those days pass, two people familiar with the matter told Axios. (A White House official disputed this.)
- There are currently no scheduled events for Harris and Biden to campaign together before Election Day, a week from Tuesday.
Poor, shoved-to-the-side Joe. One would feel sorry for the snubbed commander-in-chief if he wasn’t such a divisive, angry, bitter old crank. He talks about toning down the inflammatory rhetoric even as he consistently drives it to 11 on the dial by calling half the country “dangers to Democracy,” white supremacists, and fascists.
I don’t think it will help, but Kamala is probably right to put the addled foaming-at-the-mouth fomenter-in-chief out to pasture.