As the fallout from Joe Biden’s debate performance continues, the topic of conversation among many Democratic Party officials is already turning to who Kamala Harris’ running mate will be.
There’s widespread confidence among party officials, activists and donors that the president’s slow start to salvaging his campaign will be botched, according to CNN conversations with two dozen Democratic politicians and activists, and several aides are skeptical that he can pursue a reelection campaign despite his promises to keep it going.
Biden has always said that one should not compare oneself to the omnipotent, but to its opposite, and a growing number of Democrats are doing just that as they turn their attention to Harris.
Meanwhile, the vice president and his staff have willfully ignored most of the calls and emails directed at them, and have continued to stick to a message of both their support for Biden and their pride in standing with him.
But Harris has already made some changes. Only after last week’s debate did her office update her schedule to include joining Biden for a Fourth of July picnic and fireworks. She has never attended the picnic before, instead maintaining the Independence Day tradition of stopping by a local fire station. And after Democratic governors rejected an initial White House offer to have her speak in Biden’s place, she joined the meeting, closing it out with a speech calling for unity and loyalty to the president.
It’s her moving closer to Biden, but it’s also Biden moving closer to her.
Despite her efforts, Democratic politics are beginning to reshape around her, as is the campaign of former President Donald Trump, who has already begun attacking Harris.
Several officials told CNN that he has begun to push for Harris’ support, scolding donors who complained they didn’t think she could win. Other officials and advisers said plans are underway to persuade Biden to immediately endorse Harris and to free up Democratic delegates to abide by Biden’s choice. They expect other former presidents and party leaders to follow suit afterward, hoping to avoid a heated Democratic nomination race.
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