An article from Axios reported that there are tensions and miscommunication between the White House and the Harris campaign. According to national political correspondent Alex Thompson, many senior Biden aides are still adjusting to their supporting role on the campaign trail after the president was pushed out of his re-election bid. One Harris ally mentioned that the White House aides are too wrapped up in their emotions.
The main issue seems to be that White House aides are not coordinating Biden’s messaging and schedule effectively to align with what’s best for the vice president’s campaign. Thompson also highlighted specific conflicts, such as President Biden holding a press conference while Vice President Harris was attending an event in Michigan. Additionally, Biden complimented Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for his response to recent hurricanes shortly after Harris criticized him for not taking her calls.
A person familiar with the situation mentioned that Biden wasn’t briefed on Harris’ comments before praising DeSantis, indicating a lack of coordination. Despite some hurt feelings among Biden aides, most of them are reportedly supporting Harris to win. However, tensions remain between some White House staffers transitioning to the Harris campaign, especially those who feel labeled as disloyal for considering the move.
There is also awkwardness within the Harris campaign between members of Biden’s original campaign staff and the Harris allies who have been brought in recently. The transition has not been completely smooth, with disagreements over whether Biden’s main surrogates on television should continue in their roles or if new faces should emerge.
In response to these allegations, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates stated that President Biden immediately endorsed Vice President Harris after leaving the race to avoid dividing the party. Bates emphasized the strong, trusting relationship between both teams and the support provided to the Vice President’s team. Despite the tensions, most White House aides are reportedly planning to vote for Harris.
The Harris campaign has not responded to requests for comment on the situation. It seems that the relationship between the White House and the Harris campaign is facing challenges that need to be addressed for effective coordination and communication.