US President Joe Biden reportedly had reservations about stepping down as the Democratic Party’s nominee due to concerns about Vice President Kamala Harris’ ability to defeat Donald Trump.
According to Axios, President Biden’s reluctance to end his re-election campaign stemmed partly from concerns over Vice President Kamala Harris’ capacity to challenge Republican nominee Donald Trump. Biden declared on Sunday that he would not seek re-election and would focus solely on his presidential duties. Shortly after, Biden endorsed Harris as the Democratic Party nominee for the upcoming elections. Trump responded to the news by suggesting that defeating Harris “will be easier than Biden.”
Axios, citing three Biden aides familiar with the discussions surrounding his decision, reported that the President’s private anxieties reflect a broader skepticism among some Democratic leaders regarding Harris as their nominee for this November’s election.
The report highlighted that Harris’ tenure as Vice President has been marked by “occasionally rocky” experiences, characterized by high staff turnover and her reluctance to engage in politically risky responsibilities, among other factors.
The article noted that a significant portion of Harris’ staff has left over the past three and a half years, citing disclosures that revealed only five of the 47 Harris staffers listed in 2021 remained on her team as of this spring.
Former Harris aides shared with Axios that the high turnover was partially attributed to the VP’s management style. The aides cited her demanding standards, which some found overwhelming, while others described her frequent intense questioning of them, similar to her grilling of Trump officials. They referred to this approach as Harris “prosecuting the staff.”
The report suggests that the relationship between the Vice President’s office and the West Wing has been fraught with tension.
White House aides reported feeling that Harris wasn’t a team player and shied away from tasks involving risks. She has reportedly been cautious and hesitant to participate in events that weren’t tightly controlled.
Axios reported that Harris’ aides suspected that Biden’s team “didn’t want to give Harris opportunities to shine” to prevent her from being perceived as a viable alternative to Biden before his re-election bid.
Many Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have followed Biden’s lead in endorsing Harris in the hours following his announcement. However, others, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and former President Barack Obama, have yet to publicly back her.
“This next week will be critical for Harris, 59, to prove doubters wrong as she moves quickly to try to clear the field of potential challengers for the Democratic nomination,” Axios wrote.