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Harris’ Communications Chief Quits Amid Criticism of VP, Poor Poll Numbers

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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.


There’s more chaos at the White House following reports of a serious feud between Kamala Harris and Joe Biden.

Ashley Etienne, Harris’ communications chief, has left her position at the White House to ”pursue other opportunities,” Vanity Fair reports.

Etienne — a former staffer to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former President Barack Obama — joined Harris’ team shortly after the 2020 election.

”Ashley is a valued member of the vice president’s team who has worked tirelessly to advance the goals of this administration,” the official said. ”She is leaving the office in December to pursue other opportunities.”

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Rumors are flying that Biden’s administration is at least looking into the idea of replacing Harris as vice president and having her nominated to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

White House insiders are painting a picture of total chaos and discontent between Biden and Harris, according to CNN.

“Kamala Harris is a leader but is not being put in positions to lead,” a top Democratic donor said. “[Biden] should be putting her in positions to succeed, as opposed to putting weights on her. If you did give her the ability to step up and help her lead, it would strengthen you and strengthen the party.”

The CNN report also claims there’s a rumor that Biden has considered booting Harris from the vice presidency altogether and nominating her to a Supreme Court vacancy.

“That chatter has already reached top levels of the Biden orbit, according to one person who’s heard it,” CNN reported.

CNN’s report claims Biden allies in the administration have avoided dealing with Harris because they see “entrenched dysfunction and lack of focus” from her.

“She’s perceived to be in such a weak position that top Democrats in and outside of Washington have begun to speculate privately, asking each other why the White House has allowed her to become so hobbled in the public consciousness, at least as they see it,” the report said. “Republicans and right-wing media turned Harris into a political target from the moment she was picked for the ticket. And implicit racism and sexism have been constant.”

CNN’s report also alleges that sources said that Harris’ staff has failed her.

“When Biden picked Harris as his running mate, he was essentially anointing her as the future of the Democratic Party,” the report said. “Now many of those close to her feel like he’s shirking his political duties to promote her, and essentially setting her up to fail. Her fans are panicked, watching her poll numbers sink even lower than Biden’s, worrying that even the base Democratic vote is starting to give up on her.”

Allies to Harris have essentially accused members of Biden’s circle of being racist for not defending her.

A former Harris staffer, who spoke to current aides and Harris allies, said, “It’s hard to miss the specific energy that the White House brings to defend a white man, knowing that Kamala Harris has spent almost a year taking a lot of the hits that the West Wing didn’t want to take themselves.”

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Over the summer, a new survey revealed that several Democrat strategists are alarmed at Harris’ sinking poll numbers and are questioning whether she would actually harm the party in the 2022 midterm elections.

With Harris being so unpopular, strategists worry that she won’t be able to help Democrats on the campaign trail next November.

Harris has become the most unpopular vice president six months into an administration since at least the 1970s.

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