Biden praises Harris, says she ‘would make a great president’

President Joe Biden returned to the campaign trail, navigating an odd, bitter-sweet dynamic: how to transition from incumbent presidential nominee to campaign man for Vice President Kamala Harris.

The two took the stage together for the first time Thursday since Biden ended his reelection bid, endorsing Harris at an event outside Washington that promoted prescription drug savings under the president’s signature Inflation Reduction Act.

The two hit the right notes during their event, with Biden calling Harris “an incredible partner” in “the progress we’ve made.”

“She’s going to be a great president,” he said to thunderous applause from the audience.

Biden is eager for Harris to help him defeat Republican Donald Trump, but he must be careful not to overshadow a candidate who needs to make her mark in the election.

An even tougher challenge for Harris is to appear loyal to the boss she is replacing while also distancing herself from his less popular policies. Crucial to her re-election effort is taking credit for popular accomplishments over the past four years without dampening the enthusiasm of voters previously disheartened by the prospect of re-electing Biden, the 81-year-old president whose popularity has waned under the burden of the post-pandemic economic recovery.

This dynamic is further complicated by the personal relationship between the two leaders, who find themselves on different political trajectories.

Biden’s ouster from the Democratic Party’s top brass after his disastrous debate against Trump was a shock. His slow exit from the race underscores the extent to which he remained convinced for weeks that he still offered his party’s best chance against the Republican challenger. In recent weeks, the president has receded from the national stage, taking long vacations in his home state of Delaware and largely avoiding public events.

The President also cited concerns over his age, which led to pressure from his own party for him to abandon his political ambitions.

“I’ve served in the Senate for 270 years. I know I only look 40,” Biden said, laughing. “For the longest time, I was a lot younger.”

“I’m too old now,” he said.

Biden has also personally experienced the pain of serving a president who lacked confidence in his running mate’s political abilities, as former President Barack Obama discouraged him from seeking the presidency.

Harris, for her part, will have to walk a line between loyalty to a president who is popular among elements of her party’s base — but risks coming back as a liability with key demographics, including young voters and voters of color upset by inflation and Middle East policy during Biden’s presidency.

Harris delivered a speech before Biden on Thursday, praising him as an “extraordinary president” while Biden stood next to her on stage and prompted the audience to chant “Thank you, Joe.”

“I could speak all afternoon about the man I stand with on this stage,” Harris said. “There’s so much love in this room for our president.”

This unconventional dynamic is not unlike the 2000 election, where the Democratic nominee, Vice President Al Gore, had to deal with the paradox of voters’ admiration for former President Bill Clinton’s economic and policy record, while his affair with intern Monica Lewinsky posed a major problem.

“That’s exactly what Harris should do,” said Christian Gross, a professor of political science and public policy at the University of Southern California. “The issues are different, but Harris should align herself with the popular parts of the Biden policy agenda and distance herself as much as possible from the personal part, her ability to serve, and some of the less popular policy issues like the economy and potentially immigration, depending on the state.”

As proved by Gore — who ultimately lost his presidential bid — striking the balance can be difficult. Biden continues to serve and can make decisions, particularly on foreign policy, that will influence the campaign. The issue of U.S. support for Israel’s war in Gaza, which has already divided many Democrats, could be a particular challenge.

“She has her own ideas as a presidential candidate,” said Tony Coelho, a former congressman who managed Gore’s 2000 campaign while Clinton was still in office. “You have to keep saying it, and the general public will accept it.”

He said Harris did her job as a supportive vice president, but as a candidate, she is free to stake her own ground. Gore took a different approach from Clinton, and while Republicans and some in the press tried to make an issue of it, it had little effect on the 2000 campaign, he said.

Biden’s return to campaign travel comes as Republican nominee Donald Trump is struggling to offset Harris’ momentum. Harris’ rise to the top of the Democratic ticket has shaken up the race, with her campaign gaining a fundraising lead and national polls showing she has pulled ahead of Trump.

Trump is trying to counter the Biden-Harris joint appearance with a press conference at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey. But Trump’s recent appearances – including a glitch-ridden livestream with Elon Musk and a controversial interview at an association of black journalists – have done little to change the perception that his campaign is faltering.

Coming together with Biden and Harris during the campaign could give Trump a chance to come together on issues where he sees an advantage — including immigration and the administration’s economic record.

Still, according to a Biden adviser, the president is expected to hold more joint political events in the coming weeks and raise money for Harris and Walz. He is also expected to meet with key allies and parts of the Biden-Harris coalition to drum up support, according to the person who requested anonymity to discuss internal planning.

With assistance from Bill Allison.

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