Kamala Harris has been berated by a former campaign staffer as not fit to serve as US President.
Harris, 59, is next in line to succeed Joe Biden in the White House if the 46th President steps down ahead of polling day.
The Vice President, who launched her own bid for the Oval Office in 2020, was the subject of a blistering assessment in the new book 'The Truce: Progressives, Centrists and the Future of the Democratic Party'.
An unnamed former campaign aide told reporters Hunter Walker and Luppe B Luppen her campaign was “rotten” from the start.
Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, ran for President 2020
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They added: “A lot of us, at least folks that I was friends with on the campaign, all realised that: ‘Yeah, this person should not be president of the United States’.”
A second former aide, who was identified as a “senior staffer”, revealed many strategists joined Harris' campaign due to her backstory.
Harris was the child of Indian and Jamaican immigrants who became the first woman and woman of colour to serve as Vice President.
But the insider added: “You’ve got to back that up with: ‘What are you going to do?’”
A copy of The Truce: Progressives, Centrists and the Future of the Democratic Party, which will be published in the US on January 24, has been obtained by The Guardian.
Harris' 2020 campaign got off to a strong start after the former Attorney General of California slammed Biden over his historic opposition to busing.
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Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were opponents in the 2020 Democratic Primary
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However, Harris was unable to knock Biden off his perch as Democratic frontrunner.
Despite a number of close aides opposing Harris serving as Biden’s running-mate, the former Vice President put the 59-year-old on his campaign ticket.
The White House has repeatedly denied reports concerning Biden and Harris' working relationship.
The pair are expected to run for re-election in 2024, with Biden’s opponents struggling in the opinion polls.
JL Partners conducted some polling last month detailing how Americans remain concerned about Biden’s age and competence.
It found 60 per cent of voters think Biden should not run for a second-term, with just 34 per cent supporting his bid.
Kamala Harris is currently serving as Vice President under Joe BidenREUTERS
However, surveys consistently indicate American voters remain concerned about Biden’s age and competence.
The situation makes it increasingly likely Harris will need to step in.
JL Partners also found that Democrat voters would want Harris or ex-First Lady Michelle Obama to step in.
Addressing concerns about Biden’s age and whether she is ready to replace him in the White House, Harris said last year: “Yes, I am, if necessary.”
However, polls also show very low levels of support for Harris.
Republican contender Nikki Haley, who is the closest challenger to ex-President Donald Trump in the Grand Old Party primary race, made Harris' potential path to the White Hosue a central campaign theme.
Nikki Haley is Trump's closest opponent in the Republican nomination race
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Walker and Luppen also increased speculation about Harris' ambitions, with the Vice President predicted to appear on a ticket with Transport Secretary Pete Buttigeig in 2028.
A former Buttigieg staffer is quoted as saying Harris has established “a personal relationship with Pete in a way that she doesn’t with other people”.
However, the authors added: “The problems Harris and her team had experienced on her campaign had persisted during her time as Vice President.
“Harris saw heavy staff turnover, with aides describing a toxic climate riven with factionalism and mismanagement.
“One source who worked for the vice-president declined to go on record or even discuss matters anonymously, due to the heated atmosphere around the office.
“They refused to characterise the experience of working for Harris, apart from offering a three-word assessment. It was, they said: ‘Game of Thrones’.”