Biden Banned from Boosting Harris: VP's Team Ghosts the President

President Biden wants to campaign for Vice President Harris in the last days before the election.

Harris' campaign keeps responding: We'll get back to you, three people familiar with the dynamic told Axios.

Harris' team believes Biden is a political liability at a crucial time in the campaign — but is reluctant to directly say they don't want him to campaign for her.

It's the latest example of Democrats, and even some of Biden's staff, tiptoeing around the 81-year-old president's ego and feelings.One person 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.Biden's approval rating is 39%, according to FiveThirtyEight's average."He's a reminder of the last four years, not the new way forward," said another person familiar with the situation, in a nod to Harris' campaign slogan.

Biden's team has held days open for campaigning, only for Harris' team to let those days pass, two people familiar with the matter told Axios. (A White House official disputed this.)

There are currently no scheduled events for Harris and Biden to campaign together before Election Day, a week from Tuesday.

Many on Biden's team — including some still on the campaign that Harris inherited from the president — believe Biden could help Harris in the final days.

They also believe Harris' team is underestimating Biden's appeal among white, working-cl…  Read moreass communities in the Rust Belt — including in the critical state of Pennsylvania, where Biden has spent extensive time during his life and career.In 2020, Biden outperformed Hillary Clinton's 2016 numbers with some of those voters — helping him to defeat Donald Trump.