Staff Reports
In a spectacle more suited to a circus than a serious political event, President Biden awkwardly transitioned from the frontrunner of the Democratic Party to an opening act for Vice President Kamala Harris at a recent rally in Largo, Maryland. The event, nominally focused on Medicare’s new drug price negotiation process, was quickly overshadowed by Harris’s rising star power and Biden’s increasing irrelevance.
This charming little shindig, taking place at Prince George’s Community College, was a classic Democratic affair, brimming with the usual claims of compassion, while both politicians danced around the clear fact that many voters—especially Democrats—seem more enthused about Harris than the aging president himself. Harris, attempting to put some distance between her rising appeal and Biden’s faltering presence, spoke from behind the presidential seal as if it were her personal podium of glory, touting her efforts to rein in drug costs as if that makes up for her numerous gaffes.
📍 PG County, MD
~Roughly two hours out from President Biden and VP Harris’ event on lowering costs for Americans, at least several hundred people are lined up awaiting entry.
The remarks will mark the duo’s first event together since Harris replaced Biden atop the democratic… pic.twitter.com/lL4bFqYHax
— Nnamdi (@NnamEgwuon) August 15, 2024
While Harris attempted to capture the limelight for herself, Biden offered up a series of tired jokes that resembled the sad attempts of a comedian past their prime. One has to wonder if he was delivering his material to a crowd or if he was merely trying to entertain himself. His humor might be better suited for a retirement home than a political rally; after all, who actually believes he’s still “too young”? Here’s a hint: it’s not anyone under 80.
As Biden veered off into a familiar tirade against Republican lawmakers, attendees began to check their watches and contemplate their exits. The event transformed from a moment of political camaraderie into an exodus as people lost interest in a long-winded speech peppered with the kinds of sentiments that might have resonated in the Obama era but are now seen as outdated. The crowd, at least, seemed to have cranked up the excitement level for Maryland Governor Wes Moore, a newcomer basking in future presidential aspirations, indicating a deeper craving for fresh faces rather than a retread of the same old slog.
Despite Biden’s attempts to shower praise on Harris, it was clear that the spotlight increasingly favors her. The vice president, whose political career has been marked by her own controversies, has managed to shake off the Biden baggage to some extent in recent months. Coming off of the vice presidency, she has suddenly morphed into a Democratic darling, mirroring the line of thinking that suggests Americans prefer a shiny new smartphone to an outdated model that may break at any moment.
Biden’s poll numbers have taken a nosedive, and while he and Harris might have shared the stage, the enthusiasm level was dangerously asymmetric, favoring Harris in a realm where she, for all intents and purposes, was merely fighting for a seat at the table rather than the head. A marked difference was evident in the mood; attendees were visibly more excited to rally behind Harris than to celebrate any actual legislative accomplishment. In fact, many seemed oblivious to the rally’s intended focus on drug pricing, underscoring the disconnect between what’s really important to voters and the political platitudes being espoused on stage.
As Harris emerges as a serious contender in the race for the presidency, the Biden brand faces tarnishment by association, questioning whether the Democrats’ strategy of throwing their first female vice president into the spotlight will yield fruitful results or continue to highlight Biden’s dimming political light. Either way, there’s no question that the Democrats are scrambling to chart a path forward—one that isn’t led by the figure currently at the helm of their ship.
