Bangkok’s grey gamble: Elderly caught playing their cards wrong

[Social Media]

 

In the final stretch of the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign has subtly distanced itself from President Joe Biden, viewing his involvement as potentially more harmful than helpful at this decisive point. According to multiple officials from the White House and Harris’s campaign, there is concern that Biden’s current unpopularity could hinder rather than boost her efforts to win the presidency.

 

One advisor close to Harris expressed a candid assessment: joint appearances with the president would “only hurt her” at such a pivotal time in the race. With Biden’s eagerness to support his successor, he has instead been left to plan separate events, often relying on collaboration with unions and trade groups.

 

Throughout the campaign, Harris has maintained a loyal stance, refraining from distancing her policies from Biden's and consistently showing him deference. Her loyalty to the 81-year-old president has been unfaltering. “Vice President Harris is grateful for President Biden’s support and appreciates that he is campaigning for her,” Ian Sams, a campaign spokesman, confirmed. Yet, with election day fast approaching, the complexities of their relationship have begun to take on a new dimension.

 

Recently, Harris has become more inquisitive in her daily check-ins with advisers and allies. She has quietly introduced questions aimed at gauging the president’s emotional and physical well-being. Often, she will ask, “How do you think he’s doing?” according to two individuals briefed on these calls. This subtle shift in focus reflects a calculated approach to assessing any potential impacts of Biden’s involvement on her campaign.

 

The contrast between Harris’s campaign events and Biden’s could not have been more evident over the weekend. Harris appeared alongside pop icon Beyoncé in Texas on Friday, drawing tens of thousands, and then joined forces with former First Lady Michelle Obama in Michigan on Saturday, creating a significant wave of enthusiasm and support. Meanwhile, Biden attended a more modest event with around 100 supporters at a union hall in Pittsburgh, organized with the Laborers’ International Union of North America. His team has also been working to arrange additional appearances in support of Senate candidates in Maryland and Delaware, hoping these engagements bolster his image and relevance.

 

According to an anonymous close ally of the president, Biden understands the campaign’s preference for “Beyoncé, not Biden.” Another Biden ally pointed out that organizing public appearances for a sitting president entails more logistical challenges compared to events with other campaign surrogates. However, the optics of Harris drawing larger, more vibrant crowds than Biden has underscored the divide, marking a clear strategy from the Harris campaign to maximize her appeal independently in these final days.

 

The calculated decision by Harris’s campaign to step back from a joint narrative with Biden reflects the balancing act she faces: honoring her loyalty to the president while tactically enhancing her own visibility and brand among voters. This approach could be a determining factor in the outcome as she nears the election day deadline.

 

Based on a report from the NYT 2024-10-30

 

 

 

[Tug]

She’s smart and a savvy woman she’s catering to a younger more dynamic electorate us older folks are along for the ride.shes garnered the support of almost all of the creative talent .its one star studded heavy hitting campaign get her done Kamala!!

[Donga]

8 hours ago, Tug said:

She’s smart and a savvy woman she’s catering to a younger more dynamic electorate us older folks are along for the ride.shes garnered the support of almost all of the creative talent .its one star studded heavy hitting campaign get her done Kamala!!

Not terribly smart, cunning not savvy, hoping the TikTok younger folk will outweigh the experienced older folk and she's losing ground - including Black, Hispanic and male voters generally.

The creative talent is wasted, and can be seen as patronising - the vast majority of peeps don't give a toss who Bruce or Beyonce vote for.

Dems are done this time. Been too weak on many fronts. Trump will win but relax, only be for one term.

Edited 5 hours ago by Donga

[JonnyF]

She was fine when his mental state was negatively impacting the country. Defended him at every turn. 

 

Now it is negatively impacting her campaign she drops him like a hot potato.

 

What a piece of work. 

 

 

[john donson]

small silent coup d'etat...

[john donson]

31 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

She was fine when his mental state was negatively impacting the country. Defended him at every turn. 

 

Now it is negatively impacting her campaign she drops him like a hot potato.

 

What a piece of work. 

 

 

 

lying = defending

 

he is in great mental blabla, till they could not hide the lie anymore

 

sleepy biden went bye bye

[thesetat2013]

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

Recently, Harris has become more inquisitive in her daily check-ins with advisers and allies. She has quietly introduced questions aimed at gauging the president’s emotional and physical well-being. Often, she will ask, “How do you think he’s doing?” according to two individuals briefed on these calls. This subtle shift in focus reflects a calculated approach to assessing any potential impacts of Biden’s involvement on her campaign

sounds more like she has more concern that keeping Biden near her during these last days will affect her negatively. She does not realize it is too late for this. She has lied and kept his condition secret for a long time.. She should be more concerned with the voters she has already lost to Trump. 

[thaipo7]

11 hours ago, Tug said:

She’s smart and a savvy woman she’s catering to a younger more dynamic electorate us older folks are along for the ride.shes garnered the support of almost all of the creative talent .its one star studded heavy hitting campaign get her done Kamala!!

Have you thought of becoming a writer of fiction stories.  Seems like a good sideline.

[John Drake]

This just isn't fair. No matter which way I turn, I'm going to be listening either to the cackler or the stooge for the next four years. If for no other reason than his voice doesn't grate like the other two, Biden would have been the better choice.

[placnx]

11 hours ago, Tug said:

She’s smart and a savvy woman she’s catering to a younger more dynamic electorate us older folks are along for the ride.shes garnered the support of almost all of the creative talent .its one star studded heavy hitting campaign get her done Kamala!!

Her approach is lacking in substance on issues the electorate care about such as inflation, the border. I haven't even heard her on the abortion issue.

 

For young progressives, she has given only lip service to the war in Gaza and Lebanon, not distancing herself from previous policy. She should not have feared backlash for speaking out, since moderate Jews and Christians have big concerns with what's going on. The others will vote for Trump in any case.

[deadbeat]

Who would want to be near a creepy old man with denentia?

[Tug]

5 hours ago, JonnyF said:

She was fine when his mental state was negatively impacting the country. Defended him at every turn. 

 

Now it is negatively impacting her campaign she drops him like a hot potato.

 

What a piece of work. 

 

 

Oh I dono she’s going to be careful about Joe Biden because she thinks before speaking (personally I like that in a president) that being said she did give him a shout out during her stellar speech on the ellipse last night to the cheers of 10s of thousands of Americans.you know the ellipse thats were trump launched his attempted coup to kill our democracy.

[RichardColeman]

14 hours ago, Tug said:

She’s smart and a savvy woman

Yeah, right...........