Chait: Kamala Harris Should Cut Joe Biden Loose

[onandup]

Kamala Harris is navigating a tricky dilemma, according to the New York Times. She “will try to promote herself as a change candidate without criticizing President Biden.” The story quotes numerous Democrats, inside and outside the administration, as to precisely how Harris should manage the delicate balance between her loyalty to Biden and the public’s clamoring for change during her debate with Donald Trump.

I have no reason to doubt that this accurately conveys the calculus within the Harris campaign. That struggle was apparent in Harris’s interview with CNN, when she responded to a question about turning the page buy contrasting herself exclusively against Donald Trump, rather than her current boss. My question is: Why is this a struggle? Why not directly repudiate unpopular Biden positions?

Joe Biden is literally one person. He lives in a safe state. Harris doesn’t have to worry about forfeiting his vote. Even the universe of people who are personally loyal to Biden, and might take offense at slights to his accomplishments, consists entirely of partisan Democrats who will vote for the Democrat at the end of the day (or more likely, several days before the end of the day).

Rather than trying to balance loyalty to Biden against catering to the desires of the electorate, Harris’s strategy should focus entirely on catering to the public with no attention whatsoever to Biden’s feelings.

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/kamala-harris-debate-trump-cut-joe-biden-loose.html

[Irish_Dem]

1. She has to be careful.

Joe Biden is a beloved figure and she cannot be seen to trash talk him.

[onandup]

3. Biden is beloved by people who are voting for Harris anyway

And I'm confident she could and would do it in a way that isn't disrespectful.

[Irish_Dem]

7. Yes she has to be careful.

But it can be done.

She doesn't want to cause hard feelings within the base.

[Keepthesoulalive]

10. Why

[Irish_Dem]

12. I am curious why you ask.

Why do you think it is OK to upset the Dem base?

[Keepthesoulalive]

15. Why would she want to distance herself?

[emulatorloo]

2. Horseshit. What exactly are "unpopular Biden positions?"

Tax the rich, tax cuts for the middle class, build the economy from the middle up, affordable housing, etc etc. These are Harris’ positions as well. What is she supposed to “denounce?”

Pundits are getting on my last nerve.

[dsp3000]

13. The only thing really is the unwavering pro Israel stance.

But say too much and aipac will make sure she loses

[moonscape]

14. My question exactly! The issue is that

people don’t understand what the admin did. They couldn’t see past “he’s old” to pay attention.

The majority of Americans LOVE the results of the admin, and results in the pipeline, even some MAGAS though they’re ignorant due to FOX (and maybe some nature/nurture reasons going on!)

[betsuni]

19. Exactly. And he's supposedly "deeply and consistently unpopular."

[LuvLoogie]

4. Fuck that.

She's not Mike Pence.

I suppose the press has moved on from Spunk in a Cup Boy's trashing of trump.

[tanyev]

5. Maybe Harris should just do whatever she and her team feel is appropriate.

The giant problem IS Donald Trump, not Joe Biden.

[ALBliberal]

6. She will strike the right balance.

[senseandsensibility]

8. He can take his "take" and

do you know what. Oh look, another beltway journalist has advice for Harris? Maybe I'll listen to him if he gives cheato some debate advice. Something tells me he won't.

[Keepthesoulalive]

9. Oh please stop with the nonsense

We need all of the democrats to stand with Kamala. Stop pecking at each other like a bunch of hens.
We need,Joe, Obama, Clinton and all of our party members to stand together and beat his orange behind back to trump tower or jail.

[poli-junkie]

11. Complete nonsense!

There’s nothing to be ashamed about Biden. Kamala is proud to be his teammate, and now it’s her turn to carry the baton.

[stopdiggin]

16. because there is absolutely ZERO political gain to be had in disparaging

either the current president - or his record?

(kinda' glad somebody isn't shot calling for the campaign ... ) I think Kamala is doing just fine with this 'issue'.

[displacedvermoter]

17. Jeezus...

[Hekate]

18. Not just no but hell no

[ananda]

20. Chair should cut bait and go fishing.

Kamala Harris is doing just fine.