Kamala Harris is doing her best Houdini impression as she tries to escape the shadow of Joe Biden, who seems intent on dragging her down with him in the final stretch of the 2024 campaign. Just when she’s out there rallying in Detroit, Biden decides to make a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room, sucking up all the media oxygen and stealing whatever thunder she might have managed to muster up. Even CNN, not exactly known for being tough on Democrats, accused Biden of “overshadowing” her. You know it’s bad when even CNN notices.
But Biden didn’t stop there. In what seemed like a calculated move to tie Harris to every one of his administration’s missteps, he declared, “We’re singing from the same song sheet. She helped pass all the laws. She was a major player in everything we’ve done.” It’s like he’s setting up his own scapegoat, ready to blame her for every blunder and policy flop that’s plagued his presidency. And let’s be honest, there have been quite a few. Border security, inflation, international crises—Harris has her hands full trying to dodge these landmines without her boss dragging her right back into the blast zone.
Harris, for her part, is scrambling to create a bit of daylight between herself and Biden, but it’s a tricky balancing act. She wants to win, sure, but loyalty to Biden remains a factor, at least officially. According to CNN, Harris’s team is eyeing ways to distinguish her from Biden while still making use of the president’s remaining influence. Biden’s upcoming overseas trip to Germany and Angola must feel like a godsend to her aides, who are no doubt hoping he’ll stay there long enough for Harris to claim some spotlight for herself. In fact, some in her camp reportedly wouldn’t mind if he extended his vacation a little longer.
It’s almost comical watching Harris’s team trying to thread this needle. They’re rolling out new policy ideas, attempting to highlight where she supposedly stands apart, especially on issues like border security and reproductive rights. But each time she tries to establish her own voice, Biden’s right there pulling her back into his orbit. Official business at the White House, joint appearances, his endless commentary—it all serves to remind voters that Harris is inextricably linked to the current administration, whether she likes it or not.
In the end, Harris may find that distancing herself from Biden is a lot harder than she anticipated. Whether she can convince voters she’s not just Biden 2.0 remains to be seen, but as long as he keeps crashing her party, she’ll have an uphill battle trying to prove it.
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