The conventional wisdom suggests that Kamala Harris is eager to distance herself from the Biden-Harris administration’s track record. On key issues like the economy, the border crisis, and even relations with Israel, Harris seems determined to rebrand her potential presidency as a “new way forward,” treating the hyphen in “Biden-Harris administration” as a ten-foot pole.
So why is Joe Biden joining her on the campaign trail? Biden paused his vacation to appear on stage with Kamala Harris in Pittsburgh. The theory might be that “Scranton Joe” could boost her appeal in the Keystone State, where recent polling hasn’t been favorable for her. But in reality, Biden’s presence only serves as a reminder that Harris played a significant role in covering up his cognitive decline and shares responsibility for the administration’s failures.
Biden’s performance at the rally was, to put it mildly, a disaster.
I’m not sure what he’s trying to say here:
In this clip, he seemed to momentarily forget that he’s no longer running for office.
If Biden were still the candidate, we’d be seriously questioning his cognitive health and wondering if he might drop out of the race soon. Now that he’s not the candidate, the real question is why Kamala is allowing him to campaign alongside her.
Even Newsweek is puzzled by why Kamala is letting Joe campaign with her.
Concerns are growing that having the president on the campaign trail might be more of a liability than an asset, particularly given the circumstances that led to Biden’s exit from the race. The 81-year-old president was pressured into quitting his re-election bid in July after a disastrous debate performance raised serious doubts about his age and ability to defeat Republican Donald Trump in November.
While Biden may still sway some voters, experts caution that his involvement in Harris’ campaign could be risky. Grant Davis Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University, told Newsweek, “I think it’s risky. Many Democrats and others got excited about the Harris campaign precisely because it wasn’t a Biden campaign. Biden’s numbers up until he pulled out were trending downward. Many in the Democratic base were hoping this change meant a more progressive candidate and campaign, and this joint appearance provides visuals of continuing on with the Biden administration’s policies.”
Remember, Biden wants to be on the campaign trail. Don’t think for a second that the Harris-Walz campaign invited him—this goes against everything they’re trying to achieve.
I’ve never fully believed that Joe Biden actually wants Kamala Harris—or any Democrat for that matter—to win. Biden has long maintained that he was the only Democrat capable of beating Trump, and given how bitter he is about being forced out of the race, it’s likely he wants Harris to lose—though he’d never admit that publicly.
Earlier this month, we also learned that Biden loyalists are still nursing grudges over his removal from the race and the perceived insults he endured at the Democratic National Convention. There’s even been talk of some kind of revenge.
Biden is playing the part of a loyal Democrat, ostensibly trying to help Kamala get elected. But the reality is, he’s bitter about being pushed out of the race against his wishes and wants his legacy to be that he was the only Democrat who could defeat Trump. By joining Kamala on the campaign trail and reinforcing their connection, he may be trying to cement that narrative.
