Wall Street Journal: “The deliberations show how a cautious approach to decisions big and small became a defining characteristic of Harris’s vice presidency. She also was wary of offering her own policy views and in building out her political infrastructure. Much of her behavior has been driven by a desire not to overshadow President Biden and to demonstrate loyalty to a man she vigorously attacked during the 2020 Democratic primary.”
“Her caution was exacerbated by a West Wing that at times showed skepticism about her abilities and assigned her thankless roles, such as addressing the root causes of migration, which became a larger problem during her tenure. The results were so rocky that some Democratic lawmakers and donors questioned keeping Harris on the ticket—and later floated lesser-known governors to replace Biden after his abysmal debate performance against former President Donald Trump.”
“Now, Harris has unexpectedly emerged as the Democratic Party’s potential savior. Unshackled from the pressure to keep the focus on the president, Harris has rapidly ascended. Years of learning on the job have made her sharper and more comfortable in the spotlight. And as Biden’s own liabilities became untenable, they dwarfed her shortcomings.”
The Atlantic: “How do you distance yourself from an unpopular president while also running on his policies?”
