Vice President Kamala Harris claims that she and President Biden have never discussed their plans for the 2024 election — despite Biden, his aides and allies insisting he will seek a second term.
Biden, 79, already is the oldest-ever president and many Democrats doubt he will run again, sparking a mounting rivalry to replace him between Harris, 57, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, 39.
But surprisingly, Harris told the Wall Street Journal in an interview published Thursday that she and Biden have never talked about 2024 as uncertainty about Biden’s plans fuels tension among Democrats.
“I’m not going to talk about our conversations, but I will tell you this without any ambiguity: We do not talk about nor have we talked about re-election, because we haven’t completed our first year and we’re in the middle of a pandemic,” she said.
Asked if she believes Biden will run again, Harris said, “I’ll be very honest: I don’t think about it, nor have we talked about it.”
White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre clarified at a Thursday afternoon press briefing that Biden would be running with Harris in 2024.
“Just to be clear, the president says he plans to run again, he means with Harris on the ticket?” a reporter asked Jean-Pierre.
“Yes he does. There’s no change. Yes, yes,” she said.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has repeatedly said Biden plans to run again. “The president has every intention of running for re-election,” Psaki said Monday.
Former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), a longtime Biden friend, said last month that “the only thing I’ve heard him say is he’s planning on running again. And I’m glad he is.”
And Biden said at a March press conference that “my plan is to run for re-election. That’s my expectation.”
But doubts persist. On Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) said, “I fully expect him to seek re-election and I will support him,” before launching into a speech touting his own achievements in what the New York Times said “could be the makings of a Cooper for President message.”
And The Times published a piece by columnist Bret Stephens Tuesday titled, “Biden Should Not Run Again — and He Should Say He Won’t,” arguing that Biden should not be afraid of making himself a lame duck.
“Far from weakening him, it would instantly allow him to be statesmanlike,” Stephens argued. “And it would be liberating. It would put an end to the endless media speculation. It would inject enthusiasm and interest into a listless Democratic Party. It would let him devote himself wholly to addressing the country’s immediate problems without worrying about re-election.”
Harris would be the first female president but she’s been beset by a staffing exodus and low polling numbers — as her defenders accuse Biden’s main White House staff of being insufficiently supportive and possibly racist.
Harris and Biden regularly interact behind closed doors. For example, they often jointly receive the classified President’s Daily Brief of intelligence reports in the Oval Office, meaning they would have many opportunities to discuss their political futures.
Biden would be 86 if he completes a second term and his mental acuity has mounted as a potential campaign issue.
A Politico/Morning Consult survey published last month found that 50 percent of registered voters disagreed with the statement “Joe Biden is in good health,” while only 40 percent agreed and 10 percent did not know or had no opinion.
The poll also found that 48 percent of voters disagreed with the statement “Joe Biden is mentally fit,” while 46 percent agreed and 6 percent did not know or had no opinion.
If Harris does seek the Democratic nomination in 2024, she would be among the front-runners, according to a poll released Wednesday by Politico and Morning Consult. If Biden did not seek re-election, Harris would have the backing of 31 percent of Democratic primary voters, trailed by Buttigieg with 11 percent and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) with 8 percent, the poll found.
A poll released in late November by The Hill and HarrisX found the VP with just 13 percent support among hypothetical Democratic candidates, followed by former first lady Michelle Obama at 10 percent. All other candidates were below 5 percent in that poll.
And a Hill/Harris X poll this week found 50 percent of registered voters disapproved of the job Harris is doing as vice president.
The survey published Tuesday reported that 43 percent approve of Harris’ job performance, while 7 percent said they were unsure.
The poll further found that 39 percent of voters “strongly disapprove” of Harris, compared to 23 percent who only “somewhat approve” of her and 20 percent who “strongly approve.”