Staff Reports
President Biden’s decision to miss Vice President Kamala Harris’ speech in his own backyard raises eyebrows and ignites speculation about the state of their political partnership. As Harris gears up to deliver her so-called “closing argument” for the upcoming election at the Ellipse, a stone’s throw from the White House, Biden seems to be taking an extended vacation from the campaign trail. Instead of supporting his number two, he’s opting for a night in at the presidential estate, leaving many to wonder if it’s a deliberate distancing or just Joe being Joe.
When reporters pressed Biden about his absence, his justification of “it’s for her” only deepened the confusion surrounding this curious decision. Is he suggesting that by not attending he’s providing her a much-needed spotlight, or is the decision being driven by Harris herself, who perhaps wants to preserve her own moment without the overshadowing presence of the president? The ambiguity makes one think: could Harris be sidelining Biden on purpose?
No one cared about @KamalaHarris's big Ellipse speech because @JoeBiden decided to steal the show. The MIA Commander-In-Chief came out of hiding to call Trump-supporting Americans garbage on a Zoom call. Why do they keep giving laptops to the Bidens? It never ends well. pic.twitter.com/yL55iYpINN
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) October 31, 2024
This isn’t the first time Biden has played hooky from his own campaign partner. Despite declaring he would hit the road to support Harris more actively, his contributions to her campaign resemble the dwindling presence of Halloween candy in a month-long diet. Apart from one Labor Day event where he shared the stage with her, Biden’s commitment to bolster her campaign has been about as effective as a bicycle at a NASCAR race.
During a recent campaign appearance in Pittsburgh aimed at riling up union support for Harris, the campaign chose not to promote this moment, quite the contrary to what one would see with other candidates. It raises the question—if Biden is so committed, then why isn’t the campaign blasting this event through every available medium? The campaign’s radio silence speaks volumes about how they feel about Biden’s effectiveness at this juncture.
To top it all off, Biden’s approval ratings have plummeted, leaving him with a staggering disapproval rate of 54%. With numbers like those, it seems that both Biden and Harris would prefer to steer clear of any association for fear it might further sink Harris’s campaign. In political terms, it seems the show must go on, even if the headlining act has ghosted the opening night. Harris might be better off giving her address to an audience of plush toys, as the support from her boss appears to be on permanent leave.
