Biden made Harris campaign a 'nightmare,' destroyed her chances by staying in 2024 race too long, aides charge

Fox News - May 13th, 2025
Open on Fox News

A new book titled 'Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again' by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson reveals significant criticism of President Joe Biden’s decision to run for re-election in 2024. Key Democratic figures, including David Plouffe, former campaign manager for Barack Obama, argue that Biden's declining mental faculties and the subsequent cover-up by his team have severely impacted the Democratic Party's chances in the 2024 presidential race. The book details how Biden's persistence in the race thwarted Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign against Donald Trump, turning it into a 'nightmare.'

The book highlights concerns from within the White House about Biden's cognitive decline and the efforts to hide it from the public. A senior White House aide, who eventually resigned, criticized Biden’s decision to run again as a 'disservice' to the country and the Democratic Party. This narrative is supported by another book, 'Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History,' which suggests that isolating Biden to control his public appearances allowed his faculties to diminish further. These revelations have sparked a broader conversation about leadership and transparency within the Biden administration.

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RATING

5.8
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article presents a critical view of President Biden's decision to run for re-election, focusing on its alleged negative impact on Kamala Harris' campaign and Biden's cognitive abilities. It relies heavily on claims from forthcoming books and unnamed sources, which affects its factual accuracy and source quality. While the topic is timely and of public interest, the article lacks balance and transparency, as it does not provide counterarguments or detailed verification of its claims. The language is generally clear, but the inclusion of explicit quotes may detract from professionalism. Overall, the article has the potential to engage readers interested in political dynamics but may benefit from more balanced and verified reporting to enhance its credibility and impact.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The story presents several claims regarding President Biden's cognitive decline and its impact on Kamala Harris' campaign, which are attributed to sources like David Plouffe and unnamed White House aides. While these claims are significant, they rely heavily on a forthcoming book, "Original Sin," and another book, "Uncharted," for their basis. The accuracy of these claims depends on the credibility and thoroughness of the books' reporting, which are not independently verified in the article. The story could benefit from additional corroborating evidence or perspectives to strengthen its factual basis.

5
Balance

The article primarily presents a critical view of President Biden's decision to run for re-election and its effects on the Democratic party, notably on Kamala Harris' potential campaign. It heavily relies on sources that critique Biden, such as David Plouffe and unnamed aides, without providing counterarguments or responses from Biden's team or other Democratic figures. This lack of balance may lead readers to perceive a bias against Biden's decision-making, as it does not explore potential justifications or positive outcomes of his candidacy.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in presenting its main points and claims. It follows a logical structure, detailing the alleged impact of Biden's decision on Harris' campaign and his cognitive decline. However, the language used, especially with quotes containing explicit language, may detract from the article's professionalism and could be presented in a more neutral tone.

6
Source quality

The article cites David Plouffe, a credible figure in Democratic politics, and references books by reputable authors like Jake Tapper and Chris Whipple. However, it also relies on unnamed White House aides for critical claims, which can affect the reliability of the information. While the sources are notable, the reliance on anonymous sources without additional verification or diverse perspectives limits the overall source quality.

5
Transparency

The article mentions its reliance on books and unnamed sources but lacks detailed transparency regarding the methodology of obtaining these claims. It does not clarify how the information from the books was verified or if attempts were made to reach out to Biden or Harris for comments. Greater transparency regarding the process of sourcing and verifying claims would enhance the article's credibility.

Sources

  1. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-made-harris-campaign-nightmare-destroyed-her-chances-staying-2024-race-too-long-aides-charge
  2. https://www.iheart.com/content/2025-05-13-adviser-reveals-how-biden-totally-ruined-harris-2024-election-chances/
  3. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/biden-harris-fallout-in-open-explosive-book-says-joe-would-have-needed-a-wheelchair-had-he-won/articleshow/121143848.cms
  4. https://www.foxnews.com/media/biden-aides-allegedly-warned-donors-dropping-out-running-harris-would-mistake
  5. https://www.foxnews.com/politics