Biden administration aides are scrambling to bolster support for Vice President Kamala Harris amid President Joe Biden’s reelection announcement.
Biden has maintained that Harris will be his running mate, despite her low poll numbers. As Biden is 80 years old, the oldest president in U.S. history, Harris may play a critical role in a second presidential term.
Biden’s reelection video heavily featured clips of Harris, and his campaign website shows Harris walking alongside the president.(RELATED: Biden Announces 2024 Run)
Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms. I believe this is ours.
That’s why I’m running for reelection as President of the United States. Join us. Let’s finish the job. https://t.co/V9Mzpw8Sqy pic.twitter.com/Y4NXR6B8ly
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 25, 2023
Senior West Wing official Anita Dunn is also attempting to give Harris assignments that resonate with Democrat priorities. The vice president was assigned to handle migration issues early on in the Biden administration, but has pivoted to abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Dunn has recently appointed political and engagement teams to schedule more events for Harris focused on infrastructure and abortion, Axios reported.
Beyond polling at around 36%, Harris has faced critical media reports questioning her competency and has received tepid support from fellow Democrats.
Biden has also seemingly distanced himself from Harris throughout his administration, having fewer events and private lunches alongside the vice president.
He had previously promised to have lunch with Harris “once a week.”
“[Like] Barack and I, we have lunch alone once a week,” Biden told People in Feb. 2021. “That’s the deal when we’re both in country, which we’ll be for a while because of COVID, and I see her all the time.”
Biden had lunch with her 24 times in 2021, eight times in 2022 and six times in 2023 so far, a Daily Caller analysis found.