PHILADELPHIA — On Tuesday, President Joe Biden stated that Kamala Harris will “forge her own path” in the event she wins the 2024 election, creating a wider distance between himself and his vice president as she attempts to earn the trust of skeptical voters just three weeks ahead of Election Day.
“Kamala will guide the country in her own way, and that’s one of the crucial distinctions in this election,” he expressed. “Her perspective on our nation’s issues will be innovative and fresh. In contrast, Donald Trump’s viewpoint is tired and has been unsuccessful, and frankly, utterly dishonest.”
These remarks from Biden may empower Harris to establish her own political and policy positions during this pivotal period of the presidential campaign and seem to diverge further than Harris has indicated thus far. Some aides of the vice president have privately shared their frustrations, suggesting that the 81-year-old president appears overly focused on solidifying his legacy rather than on the race for his successor.
However, Harris is currently experiencing scrutiny to clarify how her approach to governance would differ from that of Biden, a more complicated task than it might first appear. Despite Biden’s low favorability ratings, many key elements of his legislative accomplishments, such as infrastructure development and reduced prescription drug costs, remain well-received among the public. Consequently, any indication of a divergence from Biden regarding foreign policy during times of global uncertainty could be perceived as imprudent.
Harris has been cautious to avoid any actions that could be interpreted as disloyal to Biden, who elevated her from senator to vice president and entrusted her with leadership responsibilities during his campaign, endorsing her after he suspended his own candidacy in July.
When questioned about how her presidency would differ from Biden’s, she stated, “I’m not Joe Biden,” while providing few detailed differentiators. Concurrently, she has positioned herself as a candidate committed to bringing transformative change, leveraging her status as part of a younger generation compared to both Biden and Trump.
In a recent chat with radio host Howard Stern, Harris remarked that she couldn’t identify any decision by Biden she would have approached differently. This statement caught notable attention from Trump, who highlighted it at his campaign events and online. Nevertheless, she did mention that she would consider adding a Republican to her Cabinet if elected.
At a Philadelphia event on Tuesday, Biden addressed an enthusiastic crowd at the Sheet Metal Workers International Association, rallying support for several local candidates, including Senator Bob Casey. The audience consisted of both men and women from various walks of life, with celebratory decorations and food options available.
“Every president has to carve out their own path; that’s what I did,” Biden told the participants, who chanted “Thank you, Joe!” in response. “I remained loyal to Barack Obama, and I made my own way as president. That’s the same for Kamala.”
Biden’s comments carried significant weight, given his limited political appearances since exiting the 2024 race, a choice he attributed to prioritizing the nation’s needs following a poor debate and turmoil within the Democratic Party.
“When I concluded that it was time to hand over the torch to the next generation, I was confident about who I wanted to succeed me,” Biden reflected.
In his speech, he also directed sharp criticisms towards Trump, labeling him as a “loser,” and rebuked the former president for his refusal to accept the 2020 election results, the perpetuation of false claims surrounding the election, and his endorsement of the violent group that attempted to overturn those results on January 6, 2021.
“Every generation encounters a pivotal moment where democracy must be defended,” Biden stated firmly. “This is our moment.”