As Election Day looms, tensions between the Biden and Harris camps are escalating into an open feud, according to recent reports. What was once a unified front in the Democratic Party has now turned into infighting, as the teams supporting President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are reportedly at each other’s throats. With Harris trailing in key swing states and Biden taking a more passive role on the campaign trail, frustrations are boiling over as both sides jockey for power and influence.
A recent report from Axios reveals that these growing tensions have led to a breakdown in communication and cooperation between the two teams, threatening to derail the already troubled Harris campaign. Ten sources familiar with the situation describe the atmosphere as increasingly “fraught,” with each camp blaming the other for the faltering campaign.
The immediate cause of this internal strife appears to be Harris’s declining poll numbers and Biden’s decision to step back from his re-election bid, ceding the spotlight to his vice president. Despite Biden’s apparent desire for Harris to win the election, some senior Biden aides remain resentful about their new role, having been sidelined after years of managing the president’s image and agenda. This resentment has led to clashes between the two teams, with each accusing the other of undermining their efforts.
One Harris ally didn’t mince words, accusing Biden’s team of being too “in their feelings” and failing to adjust to their supporting role. Even some within the White House agree that the relationship has soured, as Harris’s team struggles with a perceived lack of support from Biden’s staff.
One major source of frustration for the Harris camp has been the White House’s reluctance to provide additional staff and resources to support the vice president’s increased workload. As Harris takes on more campaign responsibilities, her team has requested additional staff to handle the pressure. However, according to sources, the White House has been slow to meet these demands, adding to the growing sense of distrust.
Adding fuel to the fire, tensions flared even further when Biden appeared to side with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a spat over whether he should take Harris’s calls. This incident, which many Harris supporters saw as Biden “throwing her under the bus,” has exacerbated the growing divide between the two teams.
The situation has reached such a critical point that some sources liken the feuding to schoolyard bickering, with one Harris loyalist accusing Biden’s aides of being overly sensitive. On the flip side, Biden’s team has become increasingly irritated by what they perceive as Harris’s team pushing them aside and seeking more control over the campaign narrative.
One particularly contentious moment occurred when Biden chose to make an important announcement from the White House briefing room at the same time Harris was speaking at a campaign event in Detroit. Harris was touting the administration’s role in resolving the port strike, but her message was overshadowed by Biden’s televised appearance, where he promoted new job numbers from the Labor Department. Harris supporters saw this as a deliberate attempt to steal the spotlight, further straining relations between the two teams.
One Harris loyalist expressed frustration to Axios, saying, “The White House is lacking someone in the room thinking first and foremost about how things would affect the campaign.” This sentiment underscores the ongoing power struggle within the Democratic ranks as both camps jockey for control over the election’s messaging.
The infighting has even spilled over into staffing decisions. After Harris became the Democratic nominee, the teams reportedly clashed over whether Biden’s trusted TV surrogates should remain in their roles or be replaced by individuals more loyal to Harris. Ultimately, Harris’s team won that battle, but the tension remains, particularly with Biden loyalists who view Harris’s staff with suspicion.
Underlying much of this drama is a lingering belief among Biden’s team that Harris is the less electable candidate. This belief has persisted since before Biden’s decision to step back from the race and was only reinforced by her poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Despite these reservations, the Biden camp has had to reluctantly support Harris, leading to further distrust and division.
For Republicans, these internal struggles present an opportunity, but the GOP cannot afford to be complacent. While the Democrats may be in disarray, Republicans are well aware of the lengths to which their opponents will go on Election Day. As one conservative commentator put it, “This is no time for Republicans to rest on their laurels. We only have weeks left to save our country and must do so by ensuring a victory that is too big to rig.”
While Democrats appear to be unraveling, it’s a reminder that political infighting can disrupt even the most well-organized campaigns. The coming weeks will determine whether the Biden-Harris feud can be resolved—or if it will cost the Democrats dearly in the upcoming election.