Double Act or Solo Star? Harris Navigates Biden’s Influence

AFP/APP

Washington: Joe Biden May Be Out of the White House Race, But US Voters Haven’t Seen the Last of Him

Kamala Harris is carefully using her former boss on the campaign trail. Less than six weeks ago, the 59-year-old vice president replaced 81-year-old President Biden as the Democratic contender, reinvigorating the party’s election hopes. However, instead of fading away, Biden is taking on a targeted role in Harris’s campaign against Donald Trump, focusing on key battleground states and demographics.

They have even appeared together, with an energetic Biden and Harris publicly flattering each other during an event in Pittsburgh to mark the US Labor Day holiday. “If you elect Kamala Harris as president, it will be the best decision you will have ever made,” Biden told the cheering crowd. Harris responded by praising Biden as “one of the most transformative presidents” in US history.

Afterwards, they posed for selfies with supporters before Biden invited Harris to his limousine for a ride to the airport, where their planes — Air Force One and Two — were parked side by side.

Strategic Appearances in Battleground States

According to John Mark Hansen, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, the Harris campaign likely sees Biden as beneficial in Midwest Rust Belt states. Indeed, Biden is scheduled to visit Wisconsin and Michigan, two states where he remains popular among older, white, blue-collar voters.

Navigating a Delicate Balance

However, Harris faces a challenge: how much Biden is too much? Political analysts suggest there is a fine line for her campaign. Casey Burgat from George Washington University notes that if Harris sticks too closely to Biden, voters may see her as a continuation of his presidency rather than the “fresh air” her campaign promotes. Yet, distancing herself too much could be perceived as disowning the same policies she endorsed as vice president.

“She needs him to co-sign that she’s ready for the job and that she’s strong. But she also needs some wiggle room between herself and the Biden-Harris administration,” explains Rebecca Gill, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Historical Context and Biden’s Role

The circumstances of Biden’s late withdrawal have created a unique dynamic. Only six vice presidents in US history have successfully been elected to the presidency, the last being George H.W. Bush in 1988. Harris is aiming to follow that path but with a twist — succeeding a one-term president.

Biden, while committed to staying on the sidelines, has vowed to help Harris in any way possible. Gill suggests that keeping Biden in the background might allow voters to get to know Harris better. “Having Biden front and center might contradict some of that ‘getting to know you’ phase that many voters are in with Kamala Harris.”

A Biden Surge in Popularity?

Surprisingly, Biden’s approval ratings have surged since his withdrawal from the race. A USA Today/Suffolk University poll showed his approval rating rising to 48% from 41%, a significant improvement since his debate with Trump in June. Several other polls have shown similar gains.

“He is more popular now than he was when he was running,” says Gill.