President Joe Biden’s “garbage” gaffe on Tuesday has followed Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign despite her attempts to deflect the comment. For some, it is a reminder of why he was “encouraged” to step down from the campaign in the first place, according to White House Reporter Naomi Lim.
In what was supposed to be a blockbuster moment for Harris, speaking from the Ellipse with the White House as a backdrop and thousands upon thousands listening to her closing campaign message, Biden cast a shadow over the moment. It’s not the first time, though, as Biden’s low popularity has been a drag on her campaign.
2024 ELECTIONS LIVE UPDATES: LATEST NEWS ON THE TRUMP-HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL RACE
“I have been honored to serve as Joe Biden’s vice president,” Harris said during her Tuesday speech. “But I will bring my own experiences and ideas to the Oval Office.”
When Biden was running, his team often had to clean up after the messes he made, such as jumbling words that his staff would then have to clarify, among other problems. Harris has had her fair share of jumbles, or what some call her “word salad,” that staff members have had to clean up, but the anxiety felt by Democrats with Harris at the top of the ticket has been less.
“I think it’s fair to say [Biden is] not on his ‘A’ game anymore and why he’s not the candidate anymore,” Democratic strategist Stefan Hankin told the Washington Examiner. “I think he wouldn’t be able to be running the schedule that Harris is running right now and hopping from swing state to swing state and doing all these things and holding the rally last night. So, yeah, no, I got no regrets.”
George Mason University political science professor Jeremy Mayer spoke more plainly in that Biden is a “huge liability for Harris.”
“If he does media and is at all incompetent or makes misstatements, it reminds voters of one weakness that Trump keeps hammering on,” Mayer told the Washington Examiner. “Harris was one of his biggest defenders during the last two years when evidence of his growing incapacity mounted. She’s not gone into detail about any doubts she might have had during that period.”
Click here to read more about Biden’s shadow.
Republican House leadership
House Republicans have set the date for their leadership votes for Nov. 13, and it is sure to hinge on the success, or failure, of their showing on Election Day, according to Congressional Reporter Cami Mondeaux.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is hoping to continue helming the ship of the Republican Party in the lower chamber. Trump’s support for him, such as when Trump said he expects him “to be around for a long time,” is a good sign for him, but at least two members have said they wouldn’t support another leadership bid from him, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY).
If Johnson isn’t able to secure the leadership position, second in line would be House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), who announced he would run for the position after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ousting.
Click here to read more about leadership roles for Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH).
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What to know today
Harris will be in Phoenix, Arizona, for a rally at 4:20 p.m., in Reno, Nevada, at 8:25 p.m., and in Las Vegas for a rally in which she will be joined by Jennifer Lopez at midnight.
Trump will be in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the afternoon, then Henderson, Nevada, at 6:30 p.m., and finally Glendale, Arizona, for a hurricane relief benefit with Tucker Carlson in the evening.