This balancing act has defined much of Harris's vice presidency. For over three years, she has shown unwavering loyalty to Biden, often at the cost of her own political capital. Now, as she positions herself as a candidate to succeed him, she remains cautious about being too critical of Biden. After all, she’s still part of his administration, and any major criticisms could be seen as disloyalty. Yet, her allies note that she has embraced several key policy proposals, especially around economic and border issues, that signal a break from Biden. These moves aim to appeal to voters who are eager for change and fresh ideas.
During a recent appearance on ABC's "The View," Harris was asked directly whether she would have done anything differently than Biden over the past four years. Her initial response? “There is not a thing that comes to mind.” It was a moment that raised eyebrows among some Democrats who were hoping for a more defining answer. Toward the end of the interview, however, she did mention that she would consider appointing a Republican to her cabinet—a surprising revelation that hinted at her willingness to embrace bipartisanship in a way Biden has not.
Later that same day, when appearing on CBS’s "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," Harris shifted her focus away from Biden and onto her differences with Donald Trump, the GOP's likely nominee. When asked again how she would be different from Biden, she responded, "It’s important to say with 28 days to go, I’m not Donald Trump." This statement underscores a key part of her campaign strategy: while she may not be attacking Biden outright, she’s keen to define herself against Trump, which might play well with voters tired of the Biden-Trump era.
However, Trump wasted no time in seizing on Harris’s earlier comments. At a rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Trump played the clip of Harris saying, “not a thing comes to mind” regarding what she’d do differently from Biden. With his characteristic flair for mockery, he exclaimed, "Can you believe our country is being run by these people?" He then proceeded to hammer the Biden administration on issues like the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the border crisis, and inflation—key pain points that have defined Biden’s presidency and eroded his popularity.
Despite the GOP’s efforts to lump Harris and Biden together, she remains more popular than Biden, a fact that is not lost on her team or her supporters. National surveys show that while both Trump and Biden are underwater in terms of approval ratings, Harris’s favorability and unfavorability numbers are almost identical. She even edges out Trump slightly in a recent New York Times/Siena College poll, where voters said she represented "change" more than Trump, with a narrow 46% to 44% lead. In head-to-head matchups, Harris maintains a slight edge in most national polls, and surveys in swing states are showing essentially tied races.
For some Democrats, however, Harris’s reluctance to draw clearer distinctions between herself and Biden is a missed opportunity. Evan Roth Smith, a Democratic pollster, pointed out that voters reward candidates who offer a sharp break from the status quo. Messages that emphasize a clear departure from Biden’s policies perform well with voters, particularly independents. On the other hand, messages that describe Harris as a continuation of Biden’s work seem to fall flat. Smith emphasized that Harris doesn’t need to "stab Biden in the back," but she should select a few key issues and highlight how her approach would differ.
Indeed, Harris’s advisors have begun positioning her as someone who is more business-friendly and tougher on border issues than Biden, two areas where he has received poor marks from voters. For instance, Harris has proposed a less aggressive increase in the top capital gains tax rate, differing from Biden’s original budget blueprint. This shift away from focusing solely on jobs and workers toward emphasizing prices and consumers reflects a subtle but important change in messaging—one that acknowledges the concerns of everyday Americans.
On immigration, Harris has also signaled a tougher stance than Biden, particularly during a recent visit to the border. While Biden recently implemented a border crackdown, Harris stated she would go further, making it more difficult to lift restrictions on migrants who crossed illegally. It’s a move designed to appeal to voters frustrated with what they see as an administration that has mishandled immigration policy.
Interestingly, even though Harris has started to introduce these policy differences, during her recent media appearances, she didn’t highlight them as much as some political observers had expected. Instead, she chose to speak in broader terms about her vision for the economy, the significance of a new generation of leadership, and how her personal background would shape her presidency. Harris, at 59, is the daughter of immigrants and would be the first female president—a sharp contrast to Biden, who is currently the oldest sitting president. This generational and demographic shift alone presents a significant contrast, though Harris has been careful not to create too much daylight between herself and Biden on sensitive issues.
Her restraint may come from a desire not to alienate Democratic voters who still support Biden. After all, Biden himself recently stated that he and Harris are "singing from the same song sheet." Yet, there are areas where Harris could potentially differentiate herself, especially on foreign policy. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, presents a vulnerability for both Biden and Harris. The administration has faced criticism for being caught off guard by Israel’s actions, and many Democrats are pushing for a more critical stance on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a recent interview with CBS's "60 Minutes," Harris stopped short of calling Netanyahu a "close ally," a subtle but notable shift in tone. Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the Uncommitted movement, which advocates for policy changes in the Middle East, remarked that Harris’s reluctance to distance herself from Biden on this issue was surprising. Alawieh believes that being more critical of Netanyahu wouldn't alienate Democratic voters; in fact, it might energize them. As he put it, "I don’t know that being more critical of Netanyahu would cost a single Democratic vote. It might gain us some votes."
In the months ahead, Harris faces a delicate balancing act. She needs to reassure Democratic voters that she’s loyal to Biden while also carving out her own identity as a candidate for change. By choosing the right moments to differentiate herself—whether on economic policy, immigration, or foreign affairs—she could strengthen her appeal to a broader swath of the electorate. But for now, the question remains: how far is she willing to go to distance herself from Biden without losing the core Democratic base? Only time will tell.
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