As observers try to determine which of President Joe Biden’s closest allies are encouraging him to remain in the presidential race, indications suggest a significant division between First Lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. This split is particularly relevant as Harris prepares for the possibility of leading the ticket if Biden steps aside.
The Daily Mail reported that tensions between Jill Kamala escalated during the 2020 campaign. The friction intensified after Harris, then a presidential candidate accused Biden of racism in connection with his support for increased incarceration during the 1990s. This accusation has contributed to an ongoing rivalry and a complex dynamic within the Biden administration. “Go f*** yourself,” Dr. Biden is reported to have said about Harris to supporters during a private campaign call. It has since only gone downhill, the outlet claims.
According to political insiders who spoke with DailyMail.com, Democratic advisors are finding it challenging to overcome the significant influence of First Lady Jill Biden’s animosity towards Vice President Kamala Harris. This tension is reportedly a major factor in President Joe Biden’s reluctance to step aside and allow Harris to lead the ticket, despite mounting pressure for him to do so.
A former Democratic operative within Jill Biden’s circle stated that the long-standing friction between Jill Biden and Kamala Harris is “one hundred percent” contributing to Jill’s resistance to her 81-year-old husband stepping down. A source familiar with the First Couple indicated that Jill Biden’s opinion is now the primary one to which the president listens.
The tension between First Lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, described by one source as “hatred,” traces back to June 2019. During a televised debate, Harris, then a presidential candidate, criticized Joe Biden for his stance on mandatory busing for school desegregation, which many perceived as an allegation of racism. “Jill holds grudges,’ one Democrat insider told the outlet. “She doesn’t let things go and she has never forgiven Kamala for comments that some took to be allegations of racism.” When Biden was considering a running mate in 2020, his wife purportedly pushed him toward anyone except Harris.
“Jill was trying to stop Kamala joining the Biden ticket in 2020. She has hated her ever since the school bus thing. But she bit her tongue because Biden boxed himself into a corner by saying he would pick a black woman for his running mate,” another insider said.
Former Maryland Attorney General and Democrat Doug Gansler told the Daily Mail he finds it “hard to imagine someone more qualified” than Harris and said Biden “will do the right thing” and step down in the coming days. Wherever Harris’s relationship stands with the First Lady, Gansler added, “Joe Biden picked her and arguably in some way, he was elected President because he picked her.”
Joe Biden’s campaign is currently undertaking a significant polling effort that pits Vice President Kamala Harris directly against former President Donald Trump, who is leading the GOP field. As The New York Times reported, this poll reflects growing internal uncertainties within the Democratic Party and may indicate a strategic pivot for the 2024 presidential election.
Sources familiar with the campaign’s analytics, who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the data, indicated that this survey represents a key evaluation of Harris’ potential to lead the Democratic ticket. This move to assess Harris’ electoral viability against Trump seems to be a direct response to the performance and reception of current leadership in the aftermath of the presidential debates. The specific goals and details of the survey have not been publicly disclosed.
The internal polling reflects ongoing efforts to explore alternative strategies amid a challenging political environment. According to the Times, the surveys suggest a significant reconsideration happening within Biden’s inner circle. Many of Biden’s advisers and aides are reportedly beginning to think it might be prudent for him to reconsider his plans for the 2024 presidential campaign. These insiders are increasingly of the opinion that Biden should step aside, with discussions now focusing on how to approach this sensitive topic with the president.
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