Photo: Getty Images
Several Democrats are blaming President Joe Biden for Vice President Kamala Harris' loss in the 2024 presidential election, Politico reports.
Interviews with nearly a dozen officials and party operatives revealed that many felt Biden's advancing age, questions about his mental sharpness and overall unpopularity put the party at a disadvantage, at which point they were forced to embrace him as a candidate who voters objected against and then stayed in the race too long despite it being apparent he couldn't win.
“He shouldn’t have run,” said Jim Manley, a top aide to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, via Politico. “This is no time to pull punches or be concerned about anyone’s feelings. He and his staff have done an enormous amount of damage to this country.”
Biden is viewed as having squandered valuable months leading up to his disastrous debate performance, at which point he finally ended his campaign and endorsed Harris weeks later, saddling her with too many obstacles to overcome in too little time. The apparent anger directed at Biden came after former President Donald Trump won the 2024 election, becoming the first Republican candidate to win the popularity vote since 2004.
Democrats hoped Harris would separate herself from Biden with only 107 days on the campaign trail. The candidate switch in July brought an initial enthusiasm, however, Harris' campaign was ultimately hindered by backlash against the Biden administration over inflation and cost-of-living concerns.
“She ran an extraordinary campaign with a very tough hand that was handed to her,” said Mark Longabaugh, a Democratic strategist and former adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), via Politico. “The truth of the matter is, Biden should have stepped aside earlier and let the party put together a longer game plan.”
“He’s a good man who can be proud of his accomplishments. But his legacy is in tatters,” Manley said. “The country is headed in a very dangerous direction and it’s due in part to his arrogance.”