Biden Denies Telling Harris to Avoid ‘Daylight’ on Campaign Trail

Former President Joe Biden pushed back Thursday against claims that he discouraged then-Vice President Kamala Harris from publicly distinguishing herself during the 2024 presidential campaign, Fox News reports.

In an interview on ABC’s The View, Biden addressed longstanding criticism over Harris’ inability to differentiate her platform from his, and denied ever instructing her to avoid showing “daylight” between them.

The controversy stems from an October 2024 interview Harris gave during the campaign, when co-host Sunny Hostin asked if there was anything she would have done differently than Biden. Harris responded, “not a thing comes to mind”—a comment Hostin noted was “weaponized against her” in the final stretch of the race.

When asked whether he had told Harris to maintain unity at all costs, Biden was clear:

“First of all, I did not advise her to say that,” he said. “Like I said, I was vice president. I understand the role. She has to be her own person—and she was. That was used in a way contrary to what she meant by it.”

Biden emphasized that Harris was involved in all major decisions during their time in office and suggested her remarks reflected their shared successes, not a lack of independence.

The remarks come amid renewed attention to Lucky: How Joe Biden Lost the Presidency, a book by journalists Amie Parnes and Jonathan Allen, which alleged Biden privately told Harris that any public distance between them could damage his legacy. According to the book, Biden gave Harris a pep talk before a key debate and reminded her of the importance of showing loyalty, even as her campaign sought to appeal to new voters.

During the View interview, Hostin also questioned whether Biden should have exited the race sooner to give Harris more time to campaign. Biden stepped aside in July 2024, giving Harris just over 90 days to mount a national campaign before Election Day.

“I say, number one, there were still six full months,” Biden responded, noting Harris had been closely involved in his administration and transition. “I don’t think anybody thought we’d be as successful as we were.”

Despite the short runway, Biden said Harris’ defeat did not surprise him, citing entrenched racism and sexism in American politics as significant barriers.

“I wasn’t surprised,” he said. “As a country, we don’t like to think racism and misogyny are alive and well—but they are.”

Hostin echoed those sentiments, pointing to post-election data that revealed stark racial divides in voter support for Trump versus Harris.

Biden’s remarks come as Democrats continue to analyze the 2024 election outcome, which saw Donald Trump return to the White House after defeating Harris in a heated general election. Though Harris was hailed early in her campaign as a potential history-maker, her messaging and late start drew criticism from both parties.