Harris is navigating a careful balance as she promotes Biden-era policies while signaling a generational shift from her predecessor, whose approval ratings have struggled. On the campaign trail, she emphasizes her own policy agenda to distinguish herself from the current administration.
Since taking the lead on the ticket, Biden and Harris have appeared together officially four times, including at events honoring Americans released from Russia and commemorating September 11. However, they’ve only shared the campaign stage once, during a Labor Day rally in Pittsburgh, where Biden’s prominence was evident as he received more cheers and spoke longer than Harris.
This separation allows them to cover more ground, with Harris attracting larger crowds than Biden. For instance, while the union hall in Pittsburgh reached its 600-person capacity, Biden’s events tend to draw smaller audiences.
Their distance was highlighted during a recent debate when Trump criticized Harris, claiming she was trying to distance herself from Biden. Harris responded forcefully, asserting her unique leadership and setting herself apart from both Biden and Trump. Despite this, Biden has expressed pride in her performance, viewing it as a validation of his own choices.
Biden’s decision to support Harris has also freed him to engage in personal activities, such as attending family events, which would have been difficult if he were still the nominee. He even joked with a Trump supporter during a visit to a firehouse, signaling a more relaxed atmosphere now that he’s not directly competing with Trump.
- Historically, separating on the campaign trail is not uncommon. Al Gore distanced himself from Clinton in 2000, and Biden and Obama only appeared together late in the 2020 campaign. Biden remains a key surrogate for Harris, alongside other prominent Democrats like the Obamas and the Clintons, as they prepare for the upcoming election.
