Kamala Harris, lackluster in her role as Vice President, has recently been attempting to establish herself front and center in the Democratic Party. The fickle winds of domestic turmoil and international strife, however, insistently push President Joe Biden back into the spotlight. This shapes into a gnawing issue for Harris as she appears shadowed by Biden’s persistent reappearance in crucial scenarios.
Hurricane Milton currently hurtles its way towards Florida, commanding the country’s attention. Ironically, this presents an inconvenient backdrop for Harris who seems eager to garner more attention for herself. The events at home and internationally continuously bring Biden under the spotlight, underscoring Harris’s secondary role in the administration.
The call to evacuate from Biden, straight from the White House, resonated stronger than Harris’s, making her appear redundant. Yet another example of Biden’s dominance was his dialog with Florida’s Republican governor concerning the impending storm, mere minutes after Harris ended her interview, as if stealing her thunder.
A week preceding this situation, Iran had launched close to 200 missiles into Israel. Dressed in his presidential role, Biden was viewed managing the scene from the Situation Room while Harris was reduced to an inaugural role, mirroring Biden’s steps.
Harris’s struggle to establish her potency in the news cycle is pronounced amidst these scenarios. A notable instance was Biden’s impromptu appearance in the White House briefing room that upstaged Harris’s talk in Michigan, thereby trivializing her contribution. Despite this seeming slight, Biden’s popularity appears unaffected, confounding observers.
While Biden assured he has no intentions to eclipse Harris, his actions seemed to imply the contrary. Within Harris’s campaign, such dominance steers disturbing reactions, ranging from annoyance to outright disbelief. Such incidents highlight the friction in synchronizing vice-presidential responsibilities with campaigning desires.
Tasked with playing second fiddle, Harris had no choice but to halt her campaign and join Biden in the Situation Room in managing American forces defending Israel, reducing her to a mere bystander of presidential affairs. Similarly, her campaign paused when she had to update herself on Hurricane Helene—again following Biden’s footsteps.
Biden has always claimed Harris’s support was pivotal in handling these crises, yet the events present her as secondary. This asymmetry can be damaging to Harris’s aspirations. Critics argue that her lack of an active role could expose her to criticism from opponents, notably the former President Donald J. Trump…
Contradictorily, the White House spokesperson maintains that Harris was heavily involved in issues such as hurricane preparations and external defense plans. This, however, does little to elevate Harris from her subsidiary role, reiterating her position.
Despite all this, Harris remains publicly dedicated to Biden in a bid to display a united front. This raises concerns among her aides about the extent to which she should differentiate herself from Biden for purposes of self-definition.
Harris’s lack of deviation from Biden’s decisions has been used as ammunition by Republicans to exploit Biden’s prevailing unpopularity. Seizing every opportunity, Harris instead highlighted her non-partisan cabinet plans, thereby seeking to differentiate her leadership from Biden’s.
Her conservative praise for Biden and her alacrity in supporting him on fiery issues, especially concerning the Mideast war, could compromise her position in critical states like Michigan. A seasoned Democratic strategist suggested that to establish her identity, Harris needs to compete with Mr. Trump on issues close to voters’ hearts, rather than compromising her distinctiveness.
The strategist’s advice to leverage Obama’s popularity and discuss cherished policies like the Affordable Care Act places Harris in a responsive position to Republican attacks, providing her campaign the required boost. Portraying Biden as consumed with crucial national issues, the strategist proposed more former presidents to champion Harris’s cause.
While Biden has visited significant battleground regions like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, his lack of advocacy for Harris is conspicuous. As per mutual aides, this absent enthusiasm showcases a lack of urgency on part of Harris’s campaign to involve Biden, consequently indicating a trivial role for him within her grand scheme.
However, Biden has managed to remain focused on solidifying his legacy amid the looming disaccord, indicating a strong leadership character. His recent visit to Wisconsin to address a lead piping issue is an example of his participation in essential national affairs, of which Harris couldn’t partake.
Biden’s public stature, reflected in his wider appeal with Americans, emphasizes his fundamental role as a president, overshadowing Harris’s divergent political aspirations. However, it remains unclear how it ultimately benefits Harris for Biden to persistently prioritize his presidential duties.