By Moselaunch 
As Election Day approaches, President Joe Biden has reportedly decided not to appear alongside Vice President Kamala Harris on the campaign trail. According to sources, this deliberate separation reflects a clear message: a Harris presidency will not be a continuation of the Biden administration. Both camps agree that Harris will carve her own path, as emphasized by the vice president herself in a recent interview on Fox News. She stated, “My presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency,” echoing Biden’s own sentiment that Harris will step out of his shadow if elected.
The decision for the two leaders to remain apart isn’t just for optics. Harris campaign officials and White House insiders have expressed that the distance between the two allows Biden to continue focusing on his current presidential duties, while Harris focuses on her campaign. One White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted, “He’s out there doing his job as president, and she’s out there campaigning. Voters are clearly looking for something new.”
This decision comes amid reports of tension between Biden and Harris, particularly within their respective teams. Although Biden’s aides support a Harris victory, some feel uneasy about the president being pressured to step aside. According to a report from Axios, several senior members of Biden’s team are still grappling with their leader being replaced, particularly as Biden was perceived as less capable of defeating Republican nominee Donald Trump.
During a recent funeral, a conversation between Biden and former President Barack Obama seemed to highlight these lingering doubts. A professional lip-reader claimed Biden remarked that Harris was “not as strong” as him, with Obama reportedly agreeing. While unconfirmed, this interaction underscores the behind-the-scenes complexities of their political relationship.
The public separation between Biden and Harris also extends to recent events. For instance, earlier this month, Biden held a press conference at the same time Harris was making a campaign stop in Michigan. Additionally, Biden publicly praised Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for his hurricane relief efforts, a sharp contrast to Harris’s strained relationship with the governor after he failed to take her call.
The last time Biden and Harris shared a stage was at a rally in Pittsburgh on September 2, but it seems likely the two will continue to keep their distance as Election Day nears. Both sides are keen to project Harris’s autonomy and present her as a fresh face for the Democratic Party.