With just two weeks left before Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris has no current plans to campaign alongside President Joe Biden, according to sources from both campaigns. Instead, Harris is set to hit the trail with former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama while Biden works behind the scenes, focusing on labor outreach and White House events.
Biden’s absence from the campaign trail represents a significant shift in the 2024 strategy. While Biden remains active in policy-focused events, his role in Harris’s campaign has been minimized. “He’s out there doing the job as president, and she’s out there campaigning,” said one White House official, underscoring the decision to separate their efforts.
The decision appears to be a strategic move by Harris’s team, which believes that campaigning alongside Biden could undermine her message of being a candidate of change. “Let me be very clear: My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” Harris told Fox News in a recent interview, drawing a stark line between herself and the current administration.
This separation has sparked controversy. Critics argue that the move distances Harris from the very administration she served in for four years, leading to questions about her stance on Biden’s policies. On the other hand, Harris supporters view this as a necessary step to establish her as a change agent in the eyes of voters who want a fresh direction.
Meanwhile, Biden has accepted a behind-the-scenes role, leveraging his connections with labor leaders and continuing his presidential duties, including White House events that highlight his administration’s achievements. However, his reduced presence on the campaign trail is notable, especially given that he led the Democratic ticket just a few months ago.
As Harris campaigns in Georgia with Obama and in Michigan with Michelle Obama, Biden plans to engage in voter outreach, focusing on issues like prescription drug costs and labor strikes. The president will also maintain communication with labor leaders in key battleground states to ensure strong get-out-the-vote efforts.
While the decision to separate Harris’s campaign from Biden’s record may help her establish an independent identity, it has also opened the door for attacks from the Trump campaign. Trump has repeatedly linked Harris to Biden, particularly on key voter issues like the economy and immigration. “They have no idea what a good economy is,” Trump remarked during a September debate, emphasizing that Harris is an extension of Biden’s policies.
Despite the controversy, Harris remains focused on presenting herself as the candidate of change, telling NBC News, “There is no question that I bring my own experiences and my own life experiences.” With just days left before the election, the effectiveness of this strategy remains to be seen.