Report: Harris Campaign Staffers Uncertain About Leadership Roles: 'A Significant Lack of Clarity'

 **Power Struggle and Confusion Among Harris Campaign Staff: 'Significant Lack of Clarity'**

A power struggle is intensifying within the Harris campaign as staff members express confusion about the chain of command. Six people involved in the campaign revealed to Axios's Alex Thompson on Thursday that there is a significant lack of clarity about who is in charge of the operation.

These leaks highlight Vice President Kamala Harris's history of a tumultuous work environment, marked by internal conflict and negative talk during her time as both a senator and vice president. Thompson detailed that "internal worries about cohesiveness ... with multiple power centers" stem from the integration of former Biden and Obama campaign officials within Harris's team. "The entanglement of these different entities has led to many people feeling a real lack of role clarity," one campaign insider told Axios.

Another campaign source mentioned that the confusion is less pronounced at the top levels, where the question is more about "who is the first among equals with the vice president." The real confusion appears to be more frequent "two or three rungs down," according to this source.

This is the second wave of leaks this week. Politico Playbook reported on Tuesday that tensions were high over who had the authority to make decisions for Harris's first media interview, with about seven individuals vying for influence.

Last week, a critical Politico report described the Harris campaign as plagued by "friction," "internal tensions," "anxiety," "raw emotions," "bad-mouthing," and "grumbling," mirroring the dysfunction that affected Harris's Senate and vice presidential offices.

Politico’s Christopher Cadelago noted that while anxiety within the campaign might dissipate during the three-month sprint to November, there is also concern that these issues could grow and lead to further problems down the line. Harris has faced similar challenges before, notably in her 2020 presidential primary campaign and early years as vice president, where staff departures and internal conflicts were common. Despite these challenges, Harris and her team have been working hard to overcome past issues, with the shortened 2024 campaign being the latest test of her leadership.

Some individuals close to Harris told POLITICO they worry that the unfolding tension among campaign staffers could negatively impact the vice president, arguing that this is unfair given the efforts she has made to build a cohesive and loyal team. However, some loyalists have noticed that former Biden aides are quietly grumbling about now having to work for Harris. There is also significant frustration directed at top digital strategist Rob Flaherty, who also holds the title of deputy campaign manager.