WASHINGTON (AP) — While Joe Biden's name wasn't directly on the ballot, Kamala Harris' overwhelming defeat is expected to be seen as a reflection of his own political loss.
As Democrats regroup following President-elect Donald Trump's commanding victory, some of Harris' supporters are voicing their dissatisfaction. They argue that Biden's decision to pursue reelection through the summer—despite growing concerns over his age, lingering economic challenges like post-pandemic inflation, and issues at the U.S.-Mexico border—essentially doomed his party's chances of retaining the White House.
“The primary responsibility for this loss falls on President Biden,” said Andrew Yang, who ran against Biden in the 2020 Democratic primary and later endorsed Harris’ unsuccessful bid. “Had he stepped down in January instead of waiting until July, we could be in a very different situation.”
However, after running four years ago against Trump to “restore the soul of the country,” Biden will step aside after just one term, leaving the door open for his immediate predecessor—who weathered two impeachments, a felony conviction, and an insurrection led by his supporters. Trump has promised to radically overhaul the federal government and undo many of Biden’s key policies.
“Perhaps in 20 or 30 years, history will recognize Biden for some of these achievements,” said Thom Reilly, co-director of the Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at Arizona State University. “But in the short term, I’m not sure he can escape the legacy of being the president who defeated Donald Trump only to pave the way for another Trump administration four years later.”
On Wednesday, President Biden remained out of sight for the second consecutive day. He made congratulatory calls to Democratic lawmakers who won downballot races and reached out to President-elect Donald Trump, inviting him to a White House meeting, which Trump accepted.
Biden is expected to deliver a Rose Garden address on Thursday to discuss the election. He issued a statement shortly after Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her concession speech, praising her for running an "historic campaign" under "extraordinary circumstances."
However, several high-ranking Democrats, including three advisers to the Harris campaign, expressed frustration with Biden for not recognizing earlier in the election cycle that he was unfit for the challenge. These advisers spoke anonymously due to their lack of authorization to comment publicly.
Biden, 81, ended his reelection campaign in July, weeks after a poor debate performance sent his party into disarray and raised concerns about his mental sharpness and stamina to serve another term.
Polling had indicated widespread concerns about Biden's age. A poll from August 2023 found that 77% of Americans believed Biden was too old to serve effectively for another four years. Following mounting pressure from Democratic figures like former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Biden withdrew from the race on July 21. He endorsed Harris and handed over his campaign operation to her.
While Harris managed to generate more enthusiasm than Biden among the party’s base, she struggled to articulate how her administration would differ from his. When asked on ABC’s *The View* in September, Harris couldn’t identify a decision that would have set her apart from Biden. This answer became a campaign talking point for the Trump campaign.
Strategists advising the Harris campaign noted that the tight timeline made it harder for her to differentiate herself from Biden. They argued that if Biden had stepped aside earlier, it would have given Democrats more time for a primary, allowing Harris or another candidate to define their platform more clearly.
Despite facing broad dissatisfaction among voters due to rising costs after the pandemic and concerns about U.S. immigration policies, the strategists contended that Biden had left the Democrats in a difficult position.
David Plouffe, a senior adviser to Harris, called the loss “devastating” in a post on X, but did not assign blame. He acknowledged that while the Harris campaign had worked hard to overcome challenges, it ultimately wasn’t enough.
At the vice president’s concession speech on Wednesday, some supporters wished Harris had more time to make her case to voters. "I think that would have made a huge difference," said Jerushatalla Pallay, a Howard University student who attended the speech on campus.
As Republicans are poised to take control of the White House and Senate, with control of the House still uncertain, Matt Bennett, executive vice president of the Democratic-aligned group Third Way, called this moment the most devastating the party has faced in his lifetime. He noted that Harris was dealt a “really bad hand,” partly due to Biden’s actions, and while it’s unclear whether Democrats would have fared better if Biden had stepped down earlier, it is a question that will linger.