This was unexpected.
As concerns about Vice President Kamala Harris continue to grow, President Biden showed his support and admiration for her in his remarks at the virtual Democratic National Committee grassroots events on Friday.
Calling her his “partner,” Biden praised Harris, saying he couldn’t imagine anyone else serving alongside him.
The President opened his remarks saying “Hi Kamala. I love you.” He continued saying, “you always have my back. You’re really amazing. You’re the best partner I could imagine.”
To which Harris jokingly responded, “I do.”
Later, the DNC would highlight the exchange on social media, capturing the short clip “What a team.”
The cheerful exchange between the pair followed Biden suggesting days before that he would be seeking reelection in 2024, with Harris serving, once again, as his running mate.
On Wednesday (January 19), during Biden’s two-hour press conference, Biden answered a reporter who asked if Biden would commit to Harris being his running mate in 2024, “she’s going to be my running mate,” adding that he thought she was “doing a good job.”
Yet, Biden’s confidence in Harris isn’t shared by the media, members of her staff, or voters.
During Harris’ first year in office, the vice president was the subject of negative media attention. In recent months, these reports also revealed discontent among staff who had become demoralized in what they described as a dysfunctional and unhealthy work environment. Following those reports, many key staffers resigned.
Among those was Ashley Etienne, Harris’ former communication director, and Harris’ chief spokesperson Symone Sanders.
The departures coincided with the vice president’s declining approval numbers bolstered by many gaffes.
Many have also criticized Harris for her performance on tasks given to her by Biden, with a major point of concern being the border crisis. In March last year, Biden appointed Harris as the lead to the administration’s response to the southern border crisis, saying she would tackle the “root causes” of migration.
Despite the appointment, the border crisis continues to persist.
