As Election Day approaches, President Joe Biden has expressed his desire to join Vice President Kamala Harris on the campaign trail, hoping to bolster her bid in the final stretch. Yet, Harris’ team has responded with polite but noncommittal replies, sources told Axios, indicating potential concerns about Biden’s impact on her campaign.

According to three individuals familiar with the dynamic who spoke to Axios, Harris’ team views Biden’s presence as a potential political risk, reluctant to reject his offer outright but also wary of linking her campaign too closely to the president, who holds a 39% approval rating. One source compared the relationship to a “slow-moving break-up,” with Harris’ allies acknowledging Biden’s service but questioning his role on the campaign trail.

Biden’s campaign history, including strong Rust Belt performance in the 2020 election, has led some in his circle to believe he could provide a boost for Harris, particularly among working-class voters. However, Biden’s impromptu solo campaign stop in Pittsburgh last weekend caught Harris’ team by surprise, highlighting a growing disconnect between the two camps. The Harris campaign’s schedule for the weekend listed events with high-profile surrogates including an actress and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg but made no mention of Biden’s Pittsburgh appearance.

The Biden team has countered, suggesting that Harris’ advisors may be underestimating the president’s appeal, particularly in Pennsylvania, where Biden has strong personal and political ties. Biden’s recent unplanned remarks, including his call to “lock [Trump] up” at an event in New Hampshire, have also caused ripples among Harris’ aides, who worry about potential distractions.

Moving forward, Biden’s team is reportedly exploring campaign stops in Delaware and Maryland for Democratic Senate candidates, offering a potential compromise: allowing Biden to fulfill his desire to campaign while maintaining a lower profile for the Harris-Walz ticket.

In a statement, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates dismissed speculation of friction, saying, “We are in close touch with the campaign to determine when, where and how the president can be helpful.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)