The mounting tensions between Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign team and President Joe Biden's White House staff are becoming an obstacle as Election Day draws near.
Axios reported that as Election Day approaches, ten individuals who are familiar with the dynamics of the campaign have reported increasing friction between the teams supporting Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden.
Originally allies in governance, these teams are now experiencing conflicts due to differing campaign strategies and coordination issues. This shift has become particularly noticeable in recent weeks, encapsulating challenges such as scheduling conflicts and diverging public messaging strategies.
The root of the contention seems to stem partly from a wound left amongst senior Biden aides following his unexpected step back from his re-election bid.
These aides now find themselves in adjusted roles that often feel more like support than leadership, which according to campaign insiders, has led to feelings of resentment and misunderstanding regarding their current positions on the campaign trail.
A recent incident where President Biden held an unplanned press conference simultaneously with Harris had a scheduled event in Michigan clearly illustrates the scheduling missteps exacerbating tensions between the two factions.
This clash in schedules raised concerns about poor communication and mismanagement, which according to those close to the vice president, could have been avoided with better coordination from the top.
The differences in focus between Biden and Harris have also been a point of contention. While President Biden has been keen on promoting his administration's successes, such as solid job growth figures and resolving a significant union strike, Vice President Harris has been vocal about addressing inflation and economic issues that directly affect everyday Americans.
Adding to the disarray, a blunder occurred when Harris openly criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for his unresponsiveness to her call about hurricane efforts, just to have Biden later applaud DeSantis for his cooperation, sending mixed signals to the public and media about the administration’s stance.
Internal reports suggest that Vice President Harris' office is trying to ramp up its staffing to manage an increased workload as the campaign intensifies.
However, delays in getting these personnel details approved by the White House have led to further frustrations among Harris' campaign team, indicating a bottleneck at critical moments of the campaign.
The transition of Biden’s aides to Harris' campaign squad ― a move intended to reinforce her campaign with experienced personnel ― has somehow bred a sense of disloyalty among some in Biden’s ongoing team. These transitioned staff members feel sidelined as if their alignment with Harris is being viewed skeptically by their former peers.
Disagreements were also prominent over the role of Biden’s television surrogates during the campaign. Harris' team managed to push for new faces to dominate the airwaves, a strategic move that suggests an attempt to distinctly brand Harris’ campaign messages away from the shadow of Biden’s policymaking.
The White House has made attempts to soothe the strained relations by incorporating Harris’ leadership into strategic meetings focused on scheduling and messaging. This move is part of an effort to synchronize efforts and ensure that Harris' campaign needs are met without neglecting key administrative functions.
Deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty emphasized in a correspondence the risks of shifting support prematurely from Biden to other candidates.
He highlighted polling data indicating Biden's unique positioning as the sole figure to have defeated Donald Trump, stressing the necessity of cohesive support for Harris from all corners of the Democratic establishment.
Amidst these internal frictions, a White House official pointed out that the transition of staff members from administration roles to the campaign was anticipated.
"Everyone from the president on down understands the stakes of this election," the official noted, underscoring a broadly shared understanding of the campaign's importance.
Despite the tension, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates has expressed unwavering support for Harris, stating, "President Biden endorsed Vice President Harris right after stepping aside, committing fully to her capability as a leader and dismissing any notions that would fragment our party's unity."