Facing continued political heat and declining poll numbers, Joe Biden’s presidential campaign is making a strategic adjustment.
The New York Times reported exclusively on Thursday that the Biden campaign is evaluating how Kamala Harris would perform in a potential matchup against President Trump in a head-to-head survey.
The campaign has not disclosed the reasons for conducting the poll or whether Biden personally approved it.
According to the New York Times:
Under pressure from fellow Democrats, President Biden’s campaign is discreetly testing Vice President Kamala Harris’s strength against former President Donald J. Trump in a head-to-head voter survey, as Mr. Biden contends with political challenges and prepares for a critical news conference on Thursday.
The survey, commissioned by the Biden campaign’s analytics team, is reportedly the first time since the debates that Mr. Biden’s aides have measured how the vice president might fare as the top candidate. This information was provided by three individuals familiar with the survey who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the details.
The campaign has not explained the purpose of the survey or its intended use. It could be interpreted as gathering data to either suggest to the president that his chances are slim or to argue that Mr. Biden remains the strongest candidate for his party.
The Times notes that Biden’s top aides are divided on whether Harris can defeat Trump in a general election. However, major donors and Harris’s outside supporters believe she is in a stronger position following Biden’s notably poor debate performance and may present a more viable option.
MSNBC reported that NBC News has confirmed the New York Times story.
WATCH:
BREAKING: Biden campaign quietly assessing the viability of Harris’ candidacy against Trump in a new head-to-head poll, a source familiar with the decision tells NBC News.
— MSNBC
Biden’s candidacy could be significantly impacted by his performance at the “Big Boy” NATO press conference scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Democratic lawmakers and major donors have pledged to closely observe whether Biden can maintain his composure.
If Biden falters, expect increased calls for Harris to take the lead, potentially even from within Biden’s own campaign.