A new political book has exposed the behind-the-scenes dynamics between former President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign succession.
According to Fox News, NBC News senior politics reporter Jonathan Allen disclosed that Obama worked covertly to prevent Harris from becoming the Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden's withdrawal, preferring an open primary process instead.
The revelations come from Allen and Amie Parnes' upcoming book "FIGHT: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House." Their reporting suggests Obama harbored significant doubts about Harris's electability and actively pursued alternative options for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
On the day Biden announced his withdrawal, Obama's reluctance to support Harris became evident through his careful political calculations. The former president scheduled a strategic call with influential South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, prompting the congressman to quickly endorse Harris before their conversation.
Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama eventually offered their endorsement of Harris, but only after a notable five-day delay following Biden's own endorsement. This timing highlighted the apparent hesitation within the Obama camp regarding Harris's candidacy.
The former president's concerns centered primarily on Harris's ability to secure victory in the general election. His preference for an open convention or mini-primary process reflected his desire to explore alternative candidates who might have stronger electoral prospects.
Allen revealed a particularly telling conversation between Biden and Harris before a crucial debate. According to the book excerpt published in The Hill, Biden directly communicated his expectations to Harris.
Biden's words to Harris, as reported by Allen, were clear and direct:
President Biden told Harris, 'No daylight, kid,' during their phone call ahead of the debate, according to the book excerpt.
The president's directive emphasized his expectation that Harris would protect his legacy rather than forge her own distinct political identity. This demand for loyalty created constraints on Harris's ability to differentiate herself from the administration's policies.
Harris faced mounting criticism throughout her campaign for maintaining strict alignment with Biden's positions. Her appearance on "The View" drew particular attention when she struggled to identify any areas where she would have taken different approaches from Biden's first-term decisions.
The strategic limitations imposed by Biden's loyalty demands significantly impacted Harris's ability to establish an independent political identity. This dynamic created additional challenges for her campaign, which already faced considerable obstacles in winning over voters.
This reluctance to deviate from Biden's positions proved particularly problematic as Harris attempted to appeal to voters who sought change while simultaneously maintaining support from the Democratic establishment.
The revelations from Allen and Parnes' book expose the intricate power dynamics within the Democratic Party during a critical transition period. Obama's behind-the-scenes opposition to Harris's candidacy, coupled with Biden's demands for strict loyalty, created significant challenges for the vice president's campaign. These developments shed new light on the complicated relationships between three of the Democratic Party's most prominent figures. The strategic calculations and private doubts of party leaders ultimately shaped the trajectory of the 2024 presidential race and the future direction of Democratic leadership.
