Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign is reportedly grappling with internal cohesion issues as it brings together a diverse team of staffers from various political backgrounds.
According to a Fox News report, the campaign is experiencing "internal worries about cohesiveness" as it combines loyalists to Harris, former Biden campaign staffers, and ex-Obama aides.
The report cites six people involved in the campaign and describes the resulting team as a "Frankenstein" group with competing power centers. This stark contrast to President Biden's more insular campaign team has led to confusion about leadership roles and decision-making processes within the Harris campaign.
The attempt to integrate Biden's campaign staffers while bringing in Harris's own team and prominent figures from Obama's 2012 re-election campaign has created an "at times unwieldy" structure. This has resulted in a lack of clarity regarding roles and responsibilities, particularly at the lower levels of the campaign hierarchy.
One individual involved in the campaign expressed concern about the lack of role clarity, stating that there is more confusion "two or three rungs down" from the top leadership. The situation has led to some staffers feeling uncertain about their positions and the overall direction of the campaign.
The Harris campaign has made several notable personnel decisions as it transitions from Biden's re-election bid. Mike Donilon, who was instrumental in crafting Biden's campaign messaging, has returned to the White House. However, Harris has retained most of Biden's other campaign staffers.
In a significant move, the campaign has brought back prominent election lawyer Marc Elias. Elias, known for his close ties to former Obama administration Attorney General Eric Holder, had previously parted ways with Biden's team over strategy disagreements. Elias is now focusing on the Democrats' recount strategy.
These staffing changes have been accompanied by a shift in campaign messaging. While Biden's campaign emphasized "democracy," Harris has pivoted to focus on "freedom" and "future" as key themes.
Integrating former Obama staffers into the Harris campaign has not been without friction. Some Biden campaign aides reportedly feel that these staffers have been second-guessing their decisions for months, with some even involved in efforts to encourage Biden to exit the race.
Despite these tensions, there is a recognition among some Biden team members that Harris may be more electable than the president, particularly following Biden's June debate performance against former President Trump. This has led to a "burst of enthusiasm" within certain quarters of the campaign.
The Harris campaign's internal dynamics are shaped by the pressing timeline of the upcoming election. As one campaign insider noted: "It's just a mad dash. Things are colliding occasionally, but it's not malicious."
The Harris presidential campaign is navigating complex internal dynamics as it brings together diverse political operatives. The integration of Harris loyalists, Biden campaign veterans, and former Obama staffers has created challenges in terms of role clarity and decision-making processes.
Despite these hurdles, the campaign is working to present a unified front as it shifts its messaging strategy and prepares for the final stretch of the election season. The success of these efforts in overcoming internal cohesion issues will likely play a crucial role in determining the campaign's effectiveness in the coming months.
