Harris campaign avoiding requests from Biden to campaign for her: report

President Joe Biden reportedly wants to campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris in the final days leading up to the election, but Harris’ campaign appears hesitant to accept, according to a report by Axios.

The Harris team is said to be reluctant to outright reject Biden’s offer, instead choosing to avoid direct communication about setting up campaign events. A source familiar with the situation compared it to a slow-moving break-up.

“Harris' team and allies respect Biden's service, but are wary of further tying Harris to the unpopular president on the campaign trail,” Axios reported.

This reluctance comes as Biden’s approval rating hovers at 39 percent, according to FiveThirtyEight’s average, with widespread disapproval since his departure as the Democratic nominee.

"He's a reminder of the last four years, not the new way forward," another source told Axios,  noting that Harris is aiming to position her campaign as a fresh direction for the country, despite serving as vice president under the current administration.

Currently, Harris and Biden have no scheduled campaign events together before Election Day, which is just over a week away. However, some within Biden’s team believe his presence could boost Harris’ support in these final days. They argue that the Harris campaign is underestimating Biden’s appeal in white, working-class communities in key Rust Belt swing states like Pennsylvania.

The report also coincides with ongoing rumors of tension between Biden and Harris’ teams, as Biden may feel lingering resentment over the Democratic Party’s efforts to remove him from the race for re-election.