Vice President Harris and President Biden will make their first campaign trip together next week since he dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, the White House announced Friday morning.
To boost his reputation in the final months of his term and support the new Democratic slate, the two will travel to Maryland on Thursday to “discuss the progress they are making in reducing costs for the American people,” the White House said.
Inflation remains a weak point for the Democrats ahead of the November elections.
Harris has given the Democratic Party a boost since Rise to the top on the ticket to Mr Biden announced his withdrawal from the race after a disastrous debate against former President Donald Trump, raising concerns about his age and mental health.
The first black and South Asian vice president in U.S. history has held a series of well-attended rallies, raised record amounts of money and wiped out Trump’s lead in the polls.
In contrast, Biden has kept a low profile and held few public events, and his presidency has become a lame duck with nearly six months left until his successor takes power in January.
The president, who is currently spending a long weekend at his beach house in Delaware, was not expected to make any major political appearances in support of Harris until the Democratic National Convention, which begins in Chicago on August 19.
But there are also signs that Biden wants to preserve his legacy as he prepares to say goodbye to a nearly five-decade career in politics.
That includes doing everything he can to secure Harris’ victory against Trump, his arch-enemy and the man he defeated in the 2020 election.
Harris was a very visible presence at Mr Biden’s side in a historic moment last week as they both welcomed home US reporter Evan Gershkovich and other prisoners released as part of a major prisoner exchange with Russia.
According to Politico, Harris now wants Biden’s support in swing states such as Pennsylvania and Michigan, where he remains popular, especially among older white voters.
However, he will ensure that Harris remains in the spotlight and will set up a substantially limited campaign schedule in the fall, the media said.
Mr Biden, meanwhile, jumped into the breach earlier this week to warn against a repeat of events after the 2020 election, when Trump denied defeat and his supporters stormed the US Capitol.
In his first interview since leaving the race, the President said in an interview for the upcoming edition of “CBS Sunday Morning” He said he was “not at all confident” that there could be a peaceful transfer of power if Trump were to lose a second time.
Another priority for Biden’s remaining days in office will be to push for a ceasefire to end the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip – an issue that still divides Democrats.
Mr Biden and the heads of state of Egypt and Qatar have invited the warring parties to resume talks on August 15 – the same day as his joint appearance with Harris – to push for a deal.
The President and Harris attended a briefing on the situation in the Middle East earlier this week.
