Dems express fury over Biden's 'arrogance' following Harris defeat
Democratic leaders initially anticipated that Harris could distance herself from Biden's shortcomings.
TroibNews 
Democrats are expressing their anger about the presidential election loss towards Joe Biden, whom they hold responsible for setting Kamala Harris up for failure by not withdrawing from the race sooner.
Many see his advancing age, concerns about his mental sharpness, and significant unpopularity as factors that put Democrats at a disadvantage. Frustration mounts over having to support a candidate that the electorate had already indicated they did not want, while Biden remained in the race long after it became evident he could not win.
“He shouldn’t have run,” stated Jim Manley, a senior aide to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “This is no time to pull punches or be concerned about anyone’s feelings. He and his staff have done an enormous amount of damage to this country.”
Interviews with nearly a dozen officials and party operatives reveal that Biden wasted critical months only to falter during a disastrous debate. By the time he chose to step aside, he had burdened Harris with significant challenges and too little time to create a compelling case for her candidacy.
This mounting anger towards Biden has emerged as Democrats engage in a cycle of blame following the decisive defeat to Donald Trump, with officials attempting to understand why a majority of voters supported Republicans for the first time in two decades.
Democratic leaders had hoped that Harris could distance herself from Biden’s shortcomings when she took on the nomination just 107 days before the election. The switch in candidates in July had initially sparked renewed enthusiasm among voters, suggesting she might secure a win against a polarizing figure like Trump.
However, any gains Harris made during her shortened campaign were overshadowed by sustained backlash against the Biden administration due to inflation and cost-of-living issues. A president who struggled to effectively communicate his accomplishments, coupled with his overconfidence in remaining in the race, left Harris with significant obstacles.
"She ran an extraordinary campaign with a very tough hand that was handed to her," remarked Mark Longabaugh, a Democratic strategist and former adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders. "The truth of the matter is, Biden should have stepped aside earlier and let the party put together a longer game plan."
Supporters and critics alike assert that the loss will tarnish Biden's legacy, built over more than 50 years in politics, which he had hoped would culminate in a decisive victory over Trump and his divisive politics. Instead, his presidency will be closely associated with Trump’s return to the Oval Office, and his legislative achievements may be undermined by his successor. Some Democrats attribute this situation to Biden allowing pride and ego to overshadow the political acumen that had underpinned his long journey to the presidency.
“There was a Biden weariness,” noted James Zogby, a seasoned member of the Democratic National Committee, regarding the shift in voter sentiment in recent years. “And he hung on too long.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Biden called Trump to congratulate him on his victory and praised Harris in a statement, emphasizing that "under extraordinary circumstances, she stepped up and led a historic campaign." He plans to address the nation regarding the election on Thursday.
Within a somber White House, aides grappling with the results reacted defensively to criticisms of Biden’s decision to seek reelection, pointing to the significant legislative achievements made during his first two years, along with surprisingly good midterm results that suggested a momentum shift for Democrats. Aides expressed minimal regrets over Biden's choice to endorse Harris and step back, averting the potential for a contentious replacement process.
Instead, they argued that Tuesday’s defeat was so overwhelming that no Democrat could have triumphed under similar circumstances. The anti-incumbency sentiment fueled by inflation seen in Europe had finally reached the U.S. As working-class voters shifted towards Trump, doubts grew over whether Harris could have formed a viable coalition, even with additional campaign time.
“People, for whatever reason, feel it was better four years ago — and I don’t think we could fight that,” remarked a veteran Democratic operative, highlighting the increasing number of Latino and Black voters who switched their support to Trump. “We just have a bad brand right now.”
Marty Walsh, Biden's former Labor Secretary, acknowledged in a recent interview that the administration's messaging had often "just didn't resonate with people." However, he emphasized that the shortcomings were not solely the fault of Biden or any individual candidate; the party as a whole has struggled to effectively connect with and inform voters.
"It’s not a pointing fingers day. It’s a reflection day," he stated.
Much like during the campaign, Harris has refrained from publicly or privately criticizing Biden, sharing with confidants that she gave it her all, but it ultimately fell short, according to a source who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations.
Nonetheless, Biden has become a focal point in the ongoing discourse among Democrats seeking to identify the causes of their defeat.
Several party members have cited the administration’s response to rising inflation as a significant miscalculation. The White House initially dismissed inflation concerns as a temporary issue, taking months before Biden fully recognized its effects on voters. This misstep resulted in a loss of credibility and overshadowed the positive economic developments occurring elsewhere.
“They didn’t jump on it fast enough,” said Mike Lux, a Democratic strategist and co-founder of Democracy Partners, who defended Biden's record while lamenting that the message never took root with working-class voters. “It was really hurting people, and we just didn’t respond in the way that we could have and should have on policy, to an extent, but definitely on communications.”
Beyond policy missteps, critics criticized Biden and his close advisers for misjudging the 2020 victory as a robust endorsement of Biden himself rather than a temporary response to a pandemic and an unpopular Trump.
Initially pledging to be a “bridge” candidate to a new generation during the 2020 campaign, Biden later campaigned for reelection based on the belief that only he could defeat Trump — despite evident signs that, at 81, he was not the dynamic candidate he had been four years prior. Polls from 2023 show that over three-quarters of Americans believed Biden was too old to hold office.
“They failed to see his inability to step up his game,” Zogby remarked about Biden’s aides. “There was this sense that there was nobody out there who could do it.”
This decision effectively froze potential successors, tying the party to a candidate that his advisers maintained would gain traction as the race unfolded. Despite mounting concerns among Democrats regarding Biden’s capability, it wasn’t until a disastrous debate in June that those anxieties were publicly voiced. Even then, Biden spent nearly a month attempting to salvage his campaign before withdrawing — leaving little time for other Democrats to emerge as candidates.
“It would have been better if we had had a primary, even if Harris was the eventual victor,” stated Rep. Seth Moulton, one of the first congressional Democrats to call for Biden to withdraw after the debate. “And it was necessary for the Democratic nominee to separate him or herself from an unpopular incumbent, as much as we love Joe Biden. None of those things happened.”
As a result, Harris took over the campaign with just over three months remaining, compelled to rely on Biden’s existing campaign infrastructure while developing her own platform on the fly.
Biden, commendably, stepped back as Harris sought to define herself as a candidate and gain ground against Trump, according to his critics. Yet by that time, it was too late — for his reputation and the Democratic Party's prospects.
“He’s a good man who can be proud of his accomplishments. But his legacy is in tatters,” Manley concluded. “The country is headed in a very dangerous direction and it’s due in part to his arrogance.”
Lisa Kashinsky contributed to this report.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
Many see his advancing age, concerns about his mental sharpness, and significant unpopularity as factors that put Democrats at a disadvantage. Frustration mounts over having to support a candidate that the electorate had already indicated they did not want, while Biden remained in the race long after it became evident he could not win.
“He shouldn’t have run,” stated Jim Manley, a senior aide to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “This is no time to pull punches or be concerned about anyone’s feelings. He and his staff have done an enormous amount of damage to this country.”
Interviews with nearly a dozen officials and party operatives reveal that Biden wasted critical months only to falter during a disastrous debate. By the time he chose to step aside, he had burdened Harris with significant challenges and too little time to create a compelling case for her candidacy.
This mounting anger towards Biden has emerged as Democrats engage in a cycle of blame following the decisive defeat to Donald Trump, with officials attempting to understand why a majority of voters supported Republicans for the first time in two decades.
Democratic leaders had hoped that Harris could distance herself from Biden’s shortcomings when she took on the nomination just 107 days before the election. The switch in candidates in July had initially sparked renewed enthusiasm among voters, suggesting she might secure a win against a polarizing figure like Trump.
However, any gains Harris made during her shortened campaign were overshadowed by sustained backlash against the Biden administration due to inflation and cost-of-living issues. A president who struggled to effectively communicate his accomplishments, coupled with his overconfidence in remaining in the race, left Harris with significant obstacles.
"She ran an extraordinary campaign with a very tough hand that was handed to her," remarked Mark Longabaugh, a Democratic strategist and former adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders. "The truth of the matter is, Biden should have stepped aside earlier and let the party put together a longer game plan."
Supporters and critics alike assert that the loss will tarnish Biden's legacy, built over more than 50 years in politics, which he had hoped would culminate in a decisive victory over Trump and his divisive politics. Instead, his presidency will be closely associated with Trump’s return to the Oval Office, and his legislative achievements may be undermined by his successor. Some Democrats attribute this situation to Biden allowing pride and ego to overshadow the political acumen that had underpinned his long journey to the presidency.
“There was a Biden weariness,” noted James Zogby, a seasoned member of the Democratic National Committee, regarding the shift in voter sentiment in recent years. “And he hung on too long.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Biden called Trump to congratulate him on his victory and praised Harris in a statement, emphasizing that "under extraordinary circumstances, she stepped up and led a historic campaign." He plans to address the nation regarding the election on Thursday.
Within a somber White House, aides grappling with the results reacted defensively to criticisms of Biden’s decision to seek reelection, pointing to the significant legislative achievements made during his first two years, along with surprisingly good midterm results that suggested a momentum shift for Democrats. Aides expressed minimal regrets over Biden's choice to endorse Harris and step back, averting the potential for a contentious replacement process.
Instead, they argued that Tuesday’s defeat was so overwhelming that no Democrat could have triumphed under similar circumstances. The anti-incumbency sentiment fueled by inflation seen in Europe had finally reached the U.S. As working-class voters shifted towards Trump, doubts grew over whether Harris could have formed a viable coalition, even with additional campaign time.
“People, for whatever reason, feel it was better four years ago — and I don’t think we could fight that,” remarked a veteran Democratic operative, highlighting the increasing number of Latino and Black voters who switched their support to Trump. “We just have a bad brand right now.”
Marty Walsh, Biden's former Labor Secretary, acknowledged in a recent interview that the administration's messaging had often "just didn't resonate with people." However, he emphasized that the shortcomings were not solely the fault of Biden or any individual candidate; the party as a whole has struggled to effectively connect with and inform voters.
"It’s not a pointing fingers day. It’s a reflection day," he stated.
Much like during the campaign, Harris has refrained from publicly or privately criticizing Biden, sharing with confidants that she gave it her all, but it ultimately fell short, according to a source who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations.
Nonetheless, Biden has become a focal point in the ongoing discourse among Democrats seeking to identify the causes of their defeat.
Several party members have cited the administration’s response to rising inflation as a significant miscalculation. The White House initially dismissed inflation concerns as a temporary issue, taking months before Biden fully recognized its effects on voters. This misstep resulted in a loss of credibility and overshadowed the positive economic developments occurring elsewhere.
“They didn’t jump on it fast enough,” said Mike Lux, a Democratic strategist and co-founder of Democracy Partners, who defended Biden's record while lamenting that the message never took root with working-class voters. “It was really hurting people, and we just didn’t respond in the way that we could have and should have on policy, to an extent, but definitely on communications.”
Beyond policy missteps, critics criticized Biden and his close advisers for misjudging the 2020 victory as a robust endorsement of Biden himself rather than a temporary response to a pandemic and an unpopular Trump.
Initially pledging to be a “bridge” candidate to a new generation during the 2020 campaign, Biden later campaigned for reelection based on the belief that only he could defeat Trump — despite evident signs that, at 81, he was not the dynamic candidate he had been four years prior. Polls from 2023 show that over three-quarters of Americans believed Biden was too old to hold office.
“They failed to see his inability to step up his game,” Zogby remarked about Biden’s aides. “There was this sense that there was nobody out there who could do it.”
This decision effectively froze potential successors, tying the party to a candidate that his advisers maintained would gain traction as the race unfolded. Despite mounting concerns among Democrats regarding Biden’s capability, it wasn’t until a disastrous debate in June that those anxieties were publicly voiced. Even then, Biden spent nearly a month attempting to salvage his campaign before withdrawing — leaving little time for other Democrats to emerge as candidates.
“It would have been better if we had had a primary, even if Harris was the eventual victor,” stated Rep. Seth Moulton, one of the first congressional Democrats to call for Biden to withdraw after the debate. “And it was necessary for the Democratic nominee to separate him or herself from an unpopular incumbent, as much as we love Joe Biden. None of those things happened.”
As a result, Harris took over the campaign with just over three months remaining, compelled to rely on Biden’s existing campaign infrastructure while developing her own platform on the fly.
Biden, commendably, stepped back as Harris sought to define herself as a candidate and gain ground against Trump, according to his critics. Yet by that time, it was too late — for his reputation and the Democratic Party's prospects.
“He’s a good man who can be proud of his accomplishments. But his legacy is in tatters,” Manley concluded. “The country is headed in a very dangerous direction and it’s due in part to his arrogance.”
Lisa Kashinsky contributed to this report.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
