The Gist The Loyalty Trap: Inside the 2024 Biden-Harris Collapse
Biden's Loyalty to Kamala Harris Cost the 2024 Election
Kamala Harris struggled in her 2024 campaign due to an unwillingness to distance herself from the unpopular Joe Biden, despite internal memos urging her to break away on key issues like the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Biden's loyalty hangups, including his insistence that Harris not break from him, hindered her ability to define herself as a distinct candidate. Harris also refrained from moderating her past controversial statements, which the Trump campaign weaponized effectively.
Josh Dawsey reveals that Biden's deep personal loyalty and the influence of his son Hunter, who frequently advised him despite legal troubles, further complicated and weakened the campaign.
Meanwhile, Biden allies and even Obama privately doubted the viability of Biden's candidacy but publicly supported him, leading to a stifled Democratic response. This dynamic helped Trump craft a shrewd, effective campaign that capitalized on these weaknesses.
Harris's Loyalty Hindered Campaign
- Kamala Harris refused to break publicly with Joe Biden despite internal advice to moderate messages.
- Loyalty to Biden limited her campaign's ability to differentiate and appeal to moderate voters.
Biden's Campaign Loyalty Culture
- Biden's campaign was marked by a culture of personal loyalty and grievance collection.
- Many Democrats privately doubted Biden's viability but avoided challenging him publicly.
