Biden sidelined by Harris as stink brews over ‘garbage’ comments on Trump supporters
The president’s remarks, reminiscent of Hillary Clinton’s ‘deplorables’ comment in 2016, risk overshadowing Harris’ own message of unity
Joe Biden has been sidelined by Kamala Harris in the final days of her campaign, with his description of Donald Trump supporters as “garbage” underscoring her campaign’s fears that the outgoing US president is an electoral liability.
Since dropping out of the White House race in July, the 81-year-old Democrat has been hitting the trail to support his vice-president – and trumpet his own administration’s achievements.
But US media reported earlier this week that Harris’s campaign was distancing itself from the incumbent, and that it had politely rejected his suggestions to make more joint appearances on the stump.
The row over Biden’s latest comments has now crystallised concerns that he is more of a hindrance than a help to her election bid’s final push.
“Harris should obviously avoid many joint appearances with Biden until after the election is over,” said Larry Sabato, a leading US political scientist and director of the University of Virginia’s Centre for Politics.
“Biden is quite unpopular, and he’s also rusty and off his game.”