CNN Releases Devastating Report on Kamala Harris, White House Scrambles to Do Damage Control

By
David Rufful
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OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.

CNN released a critical report of Vice President Kamala Harris that suggested “dysfunction” within her team.

The report said the White House is growing increasingly frustrated with “entrenched dysfunction and lack of focus” from Harris and her staff.

CNN interviewed nearly three dozen current and former staffers for Harris, administration officials, donors, advisers and Democratic Party operatives.

Their remarks were not good for Harris.

“Harris is struggling with a rocky relationship with some parts of the White House, while long-time supporters feel abandoned and see no coherent public sense of what she’s done or been trying to do as vice president,” CNN reported.

A top Biden donor criticized the White House for failure to put her in a “position to lead” and therefore succeed.

“Kamala Harris is a leader but is not being put in positions to lead,” the donor told CNN. “That doesn’t make sense. We need to be thinking long term, and we need to be doing what’s best for the party.

“You should be putting her in positions to succeed, as opposed to putting weights on her,” he continued. “If you did give her the ability to step up and help her lead, it would strengthen you and strengthen the party.”

Following this report, the White House appears to be scrambling to Harris’ defense.

Her job approval numbers have hit rock bottom at only 28 percent, according to a new poll from USA Today and Suffolk University.

Business Insider reports this is a “historic low for any modern vice president.” This rating is even lower than those of former Vice President Dick Cheney.

“Beyond just her disapproval as vice president, this also strikes against her bigger goal of gaining the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024,” Western Journal notes.

“Biden’s age will likely keep him from running again, which would have made Harris a natural candidate if she hadn’t botched her approval numbers so badly.” Harris faces a major uphill battle in attempting to gain the Democratic nomination for the White House.

Coming to Harris’ defense, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki spoke out on Twitter about Harris amid her sinking poll numbers.

“For anyone who needs to hear it. @VP is not only a vital partner to @POTUS but a bold leader who has taken on key, important challenges facing the country—from voting rights to addressing root causes of migration to expanding broadband,” Psaki tweeted.

This remark from Psaki comes after the CNN report.

Harris’ office has also appeared to respond to CNN. Senior adviser and chief spokesperson for Harris, Symone Sanders, wrote, “It is unfortunate that after a productive trip to France in which we reaffirmed our relationship with America’s oldest ally and demonstrated U.S. leadership on the world stage, and following passage of a historic, bipartisan infrastructure bill that will create jobs and strengthen our communities, some in the media are focused on gossip — not on the results that the President and Vice President have delivered.”

More from Fox News:

Shortly afterward, Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh tweeted, “Honored to work for @VP every day. She’s focused on the #BuildBackBetter agenda and delivering results for the American people.”

“Proud to be on team @VP every single day,” Assistant Press Secretary Rachel Palermo wrote.

CNN reporters Edward-Isaac Dovere and Jasmine Wright published an article titled “Exasperation and dysfunction: Inside Kamala Harris’ frustrating start as vice president.” The article highlights repeated conflicts between Harris, her staff and the White House.

“But, with many sources speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the situation more frankly, they all tell roughly the same story: Harris’ staff has repeatedly failed her and left her exposed, and family members have often had an informal say within her office. Even some who have been asked for advice lament Harris’ overly cautious tendencies and staff problems, which have been a feature of every office she’s held, from San Francisco district attorney to U.S. Senate,” the reporters wrote.

Harris was recently panned for her overseas trip to France after visiting a COVID-19 lab in Paris where she apparently used a French accent. A recent poll showed Harris’ approval rating below Biden’s with a 28% approval rating among Americans.