Harris Campaign Brings Joe Biden, Fresh from Vacation, Back as Lead Surrogate

 Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign has decided to position President Joe Biden as a prominent surrogate for her White House bid.

While Biden's role as a campaign surrogate could offer support to Harris, it also presents potential risks. At 81, Biden is known for making gaffes and has a challenging political history. His recent polling numbers reflect these challenges, with only 41 percent of Americans approving of his job performance and 54 percent disapproving, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average as of September 2.

Biden recently spent two weeks on a beach vacation after delivering a speech at the Democratic National Convention. His absence from the White House during this period led Republicans to question who was in charge of the country.

"He’s actually going to participate in the campaign and lay out what the administration has done. That’s one of the key things that needs to be emphasized," said former Delaware Senator Ted Kaufman, a close friend and longtime adviser to Biden, in an interview with CNN. "It’s all hands on deck."

CNN also reported on the Harris campaign’s decision to involve Biden in the campaign, focusing on how he could be utilized on the fundraising circuit this fall.

After his vacation in California and Delaware, Biden expressed enthusiasm about returning to the campaign trail. His advisors have been preparing his fall campaign plans, aiming to highlight his legacy. According to sources, Biden's initial campaign efforts will take him through Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan over the next five days. These critical "blue wall" states were pivotal in his narrow 2020 victory over former President Donald Trump. His visits will include a combination of campaign events and official duties to promote popular agenda items, providing a blueprint for his deployment in the coming months.

There is a high level of coordination between the West Wing, the vice president’s office, and the campaign to determine where Biden’s presence would be most beneficial, according to a source familiar with the strategy. The exact locations and frequency of his campaign appearances could change as the race develops, particularly since Harris's campaign has a limited time to make its case to voters.

It seems Biden’s tenure as a key figure in Washington is coming to a close, as reports indicate that the political establishment in Washington, D.C., is pushing him out. According to the New York Times, former President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), and Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) played significant roles in this effort, based on multiple interviews with individuals with direct knowledge of the situation. Notably, the senators' involvement had not been previously reported.

Biden explained in an August interview with CBS News, "What happened was a number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was going to hurt them in the races. And I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic."

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