As the specter of the 2024 presidential elections loomed, Vice President Kamala Harris found herself cornered firmly under the shadow of her commander-in-chief, Joe Biden. Bound by an unyielding demand for allegiance, she was unable to distinguish her political identity during her single debate against Donald Trump. A revelation from the latest political volume ‘Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House,’ illustrates Brennan’s suffocating hold over his deputy.
On the day Harris was set for her one-on-one against Trump, Biden telephoned, supposedly to deliver words of encouragement. Instead, the call served as another way to pronounce his expectations and safeguard his legacy. In an off-putting reminder, Biden’s instructions were chillingly succinct – ‘No daylight, kid.’
Biden’s cryptic phrase calls back to his 2008 Vice-Presidential campaign, where he utilized the same tactic to link the Republican nominee John McCain to the then exiting President George W. Bush. Drawing parallels with the past, Biden seemed bent on tying Harris so closely that her victory or defeat would be indistinguishable from his own.
There was an added twist to this tale. Harris’s campaign was effectively helmed by Biden’s faithfuls, making it virtually impossible for her to openly question her superior. This staff composition turned Harris’ position as Vice President into a double-edged sword, stifling her voice and volition.
After Biden decided to step back from the 2024 electoral race post a bout of unimpressive debating against Trump, Harris was appointed as his successor. However, the transfer of power was hardly seamless, being dogged by claims by Harris’s aides of a lack of collaboration from Biden’s camp after his sudden exit from the race.
A senior advisor to Harris, who boasts of significant campaign expertise, put the blame squarely on Biden for his poorly timed retirement. The accusation fell on Biden’s stubborn persistence in the electoral race despite a broad consensus criticizing his debate performance.
Harris earned some applause for her aggressive approach during the debate with Trump. However, such modest praise was in marked contrast to the emphatic victory achieved by Trump in the general election. Trump triumphed not just in the Electoral College but also succeeded in netting popular vote.
With the backdrop of these circumstances, Harris appears to be contemplating a shift in her political trajectory. The former Vice President is reportedly mulling over a gubernatorial bid in California. Despite the missteps of the past, one can only hope she manages to carve her own political path, free from the overbearing influence of individuals like Biden.