Staff Reports
The release of “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House” sheds some light on the chaotic maneuvers within the Democratic Party leading up to the 2024 election. Co-authored by a couple of well-known political pundits, the book presents a gripping narrative that suggests the Biden-Harris ticket was far less a well-oiled machine than a desperate scramble to maintain power in an increasingly unstable climate.
The narrative begins with then-Vice President Kamala Harris practically begging for Biden’s endorsement as he planned to abandon his run for re-election. On the fateful day of Biden’s departure from the race, Harris reportedly implored him to back her candidacy, fearing that an uninspired withdrawal could leave her looking like the last kid picked in gym class. Her approach seemed geared more toward salvaging her political aspirations than saving Biden’s “legacy,” which had already been tarnished by plunging approval ratings and a series of blunders.
Details on Biden's Endorsement of Harris Shows How Much Dems Were in Disarray for 2024 https://t.co/Ch5qPqivjW
— Deborah Hostetter (@HostetterGmail) April 3, 2025
By July 21, 2022, Biden’s much-anticipated exit from the race followed a disastrous debate against Donald Trump. If one were to pique interest in campaign strategy, the choice of timing couldn’t be more telling. Biden did not waste a moment in showing his apparent commitment to Harris, endorsing her barely half an hour after announcing he was out. This may have been more about avoiding a messy Democratic primary than a reflection of how much he believed in her capabilities. It’s a sad state of affairs that a sitting president feels the need to endorse a successor to maintain party unity instead of simply calling it a day.
What’s even more revealing is the role Rep. James Clyburn played in this whole circus. This kingmaker, who helped Biden beat the primary blues in 2020, reportedly suggested that Biden could not exit the race without securing the future of the party by endorsing Harris. His involvement indicates a political party grappling with issues of confidence in its own candidates. Clyburn seemed aware that some Democratic bigwigs were less than thrilled with Harris, fearing the nomination could be snatched away by someone who might actually appeal to voters.
The book also brings up the conspiring whispers of notable Democrats like Obama and Pelosi, who apparently weren’t convinced that Harris was the best option. The internal party dynamics look less like a united front and more like a soap opera, with major players anxiously trying to prevent any sort of uprising from within their ranks. With the 2024 election drawing near, the disarray within the Democratic establishment is painfully apparent, especially when contrasting it with Trump’s unstoppable momentum.
As Harris scrambles to build her campaign, the Democrats must contend with an unflattering reality. Her track record, which includes a failure to secure any primary votes for both her 2020 and 2024 runs, might point toward a self-inflicted wound rather than a blessing in disguise. Trump is poised, and amid the turmoil in the Democratic Party, it seems the stakes have never been higher. Harris’ candidacy raises more questions than answers, leaving the audience to wonder whether she can truly turn the tide for the Democrats or if they’re destined for another electoral disaster.
