The Inside Story of the Wild Final Days of the Biden Campaign With Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes
Apr 3, 2025
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Jonathan Allen, an NBC senior political analyst, and Amie Parnes, a senior journalist for The Hill, delve into the chaotic final days of Joe Biden's campaign. They reveal intense internal discussions among Democratic leaders and candidly address efforts to manage Biden's image amidst concerns about his cognitive health. The duo shares insights from their book, detailing the pivotal moment when Biden's withdrawal was decided and Kamala Harris's strategic role in the aftermath, highlighting the tensions and complexities of the political landscape.
The Democratic Party's leadership faced internal strife over managing Biden's public image, reflecting concerns about his cognitive abilities and debate performance.
Kamala Harris's unexpected scramble for support after Biden's abrupt decision to drop out revealed significant communication failures within the campaign team.
Deep dives
Strategic Insiders: The Dynamics of Democratic Leadership
The podcast delves into the behind-the-scenes efforts of Democratic leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama during Joe Biden's presidential campaign. Their overarching concern was to strategize around Biden's public appearances and how he would face off against Donald Trump in debates, with some leaders suggesting he should avoid the stage entirely due to fears about his performance. Pelosi, for instance, expressed that engaging in a debate could jeopardize Biden’s image and diminish the presidency's stature, preferring he not 'stoop' to Trump's level. This tension between wanting Biden to assert himself politically while also shielding him from potential embarrassment highlighted the fraught situation within the Democratic Party as they approached the election.
Biden's Unexpected Withdrawal: The Aftermath for Kamala Harris
A critical moment discussed is Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the race, which came without any prior notice to Kamala Harris, leading to a chaotic response from her team. As Biden called Harris to inform her of his decision, it became evident that there was no prepared endorsement for her candidacy, leaving her team scrambling to secure Biden’s support. The call revealed the urgency in Harris’s position, as she pressed Biden for an immediate endorsement to avoid an open convention that could invite other challengers. This episode underscored the lack of coordination and communication within the party, revealing the precarious balance of power and the anxieties surrounding a transition of leadership.
Campaign Strategies and the Misalignment of Expectations
The podcast highlights the stark contrasts in expectations within Harris’s campaign, where she and her team believed they would win the election, leading to a false sense of security. As the election day approached, Harris's team was confident in their momentum and support, ultimately resulting in shock and disbelief when the results did not align with their projections. The party leadership had been projecting optimism, creating an environment where those on the ground felt misled, contributing to a collective sense of gaslighting. This disconnect between the campaign's internal narrative and the harsh electoral reality reflected deeper issues within the Democratic strategies and their understanding of voter sentiment.
The Fragility of Political Messaging: Biden's Cognitive Challenges
The discussion around Biden's cognitive ability and public performance reveals significant concerns among party operatives regarding his fitness for office. Throughout the campaign, there were numerous incidents where Biden appeared disoriented or struggled to communicate effectively, raising doubts about his capability as a candidate. These moments were often downplayed or concealed, leading to a disconnect between the party leadership's public assurances of confidence and the privately held apprehensions about Biden's condition. This handling of his cognitive challenges not only complicated his campaign but also painted a broader picture of the Democratic Party's struggle to confront uncomfortable truths about their candidate's viability.
Tara is joined by NBC senior political analyst Jonathan Allen and senior political journalist for The Hill, Amie Parnes, to discuss their latest book, ‘Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House,’ a behind-the-scenes account of the events surrounding Joe Biden stepping down in the presidential race through the end of Kamala Harris’s unprecedented campaign. They talk about the chaotic discussions that ensued within the Democrats' top brass after Biden’s announcement, shine a light on the efforts to hide Biden’s mental deficiencies, and highlight Harris and Tim Walz’s reactions after the election results came in.
For more of Tara’s independent journalism subscribe to her newsletter ‘The Red Letter’ here on Substack!
