President Biden has reportedly complained behind closed doors that Vice President Kamala Harris hasn't mentioned him or “Bidennomics” enough in recent campaign speeches.
Since Biden, 81, withdrew from the 2024 race in July, Harris and the Democratic Party appear to have “gone away from him” and his “achievements” are no longer in the spotlight as Election Day approaches. He said he complained privately to allies that it was missing. to NBC News coverage on monday.
The president was particularly upset by the 59-year-old vice president's reference to him during a Sept. 10 debate against former President Donald Trump, an attempt to distance himself from his policies. It was.
“Obviously, I'm not Joe Biden,” Harris said in response to Trump's accusation that “she's Biden” on economic policy. “And I am by no means Donald Trump. And what I want to offer is a new generation of leadership for our country.”
According to reports, Mr. Biden feels that Ms. Harris should promote his economic policies and mention her by name when talking about a “positive trajectory” for the economy.
A person familiar with Biden's thinking said the president's feelings are “very mixed” about his gradual exit from Harris' campaign after ending his re-election bid and immediately endorsing Harris. .
Other people familiar with Mr. Biden's personal comments said the president was “distressed by the disappearance of his footprint on the national stage” and that his legacy would depend on Mr. Harris defeating Mr. Trump in November. He said he sometimes feels dependent on things.
But the president appears to understand the political reasons behind Harris' escape from her record.
“He totally understands that he generally doesn't talk about 'Bidenomics' or 'Joe Biden.' Politically, he understands that,” a source familiar with their dynamics said. he told the magazine.
Biden supporters also said that while they felt “left out,” the president still “felt loyalty” to Harris and would do whatever he could to help her win.
In defending the Democratic nominee's decision to phase out references to Biden from her campaign, a Harris official told NBC News that the campaign “needs to tell people: ” he said. [Harris] And what will she do? ”
“I had no real interest in hearing about it. [Biden’s] It's a credit to him when he was running,” added a Harris campaign official. “That's still the case.”
The White House did not respond to The Post's request for comment.
White House press secretary Andrew Bates told NBC News that the report was “the exact opposite of the truth.”
