Hello everyone! In a recent and rather revealing interview, Ron Klain, the former White House Chief of Staff under President Joe Biden, opened up about the challenges the administration faced in trying to elevate Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite a strong desire among Biden’s team to see Harris succeed, Klain admitted that finding a clear path to achieve that goal proved to be much more difficult than anticipated.
Klain’s comments came during a discussion with The New York Times, which explored Harris’s journey as Vice President, particularly as she steps into the spotlight as the top candidate on the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket.
However, the story behind her rise is anything but smooth. Harris, who has faced consistently low approval ratings and hasn’t won a single primary vote on her own, was seen by many as struggling to carve out a distinct and successful role in the administration.
The Times article, intriguingly titled “A Vice Presidential Learning Curve: How Kamala Harris Picked Her Shots,” attempts to paint a picture of Harris gradually finding her footing. A significant portion of the piece focuses on Harris taking charge of an abortion rights task force following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. This move was framed as a turning point, showing Harris embracing leadership on a critical issue while carefully navigating her position as the first female Vice President.
However, the article glosses over a key admission by Klain, which only appears well into the piece. Klain acknowledged that while the Biden administration was “united” in its desire to see Harris succeed, they struggled to find a winning strategy for her.
“We were all united behind the idea she should be successful. We just didn’t find the path to do it,” Klain admitted. This is a striking revelation, as it suggests that despite Harris’s popularity and the enthusiasm surrounding her, the administration may not have done enough to promote her contributions effectively.
Ron Klain on Kamala Harris 🚨🚨🚨
“We were all united behind the idea she should be successful. We just didn’t find the path to do it,”https://t.co/vgi1S014AG
— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) August 19, 2024
Adding to the complexity, Jeffrey Zients, who succeeded Klain as Chief of Staff, highlighted Harris’s involvement in key decisions, emphasizing that President Biden insisted she be part of every significant decision. Zients pointed out, “When I started running the transition, the president’s first directive to me was the vice president must be involved in every decision that hits his desk, from start to finish.”
While these comments from Klain and Zients aim to portray Harris as a deeply involved and integral part of the administration, they may also present challenges as she continues her own presidential campaign. Harris has already shown a desire to distance herself from some of the more controversial or unpopular policies of the Biden administration, which could create tension between her past roles and her future ambitions.
As Harris gears up for the 2024 campaign, the question remains: Will she be able to overcome the obstacles that have shadowed her vice presidency and forge a new path as a presidential candidate? Only time will tell if the lessons learned during her time as Vice President will translate into a successful bid for the highest office in the land.
