What did the vice president know about President Biden’s health issues and when did she know it?
And why didn’t she share the details with the American people?
That last is the question nearly everyone has, according to a YouGov/Times of London poll of 1,170 registered voters.
The July 22 to 23 survey was in the field after President Biden renounced his re-election campaign but before he offered a halting delivery of what was effectively a farewell speech Wednesday night from the Oval Office.
A staggering 92% of respondents believe Harris knew at least a little bit about the president’s progressive deterioration, which became too much for even mainstream media to deny after his debate debacle against former President Donald Trump last month in Atlanta, though Biden’s issues have been discussed openly on the right since he took office in 2021.
And of that vast majority charging Harris, a former prosecutor, with being part of a conspiracy to defraud the American people about the octogenarian’s obvious decline, most believe she knew a “great deal” about Biden’s issues — but chose not to say anything.
Overall, 68% say she had ample knowledge of Biden’s deterioration, with 78% of Republicans, 73% of independents, and 82% of self-identified conservatives believing the VP was central to the coverup.
Though more than two of every three voters think Harris essentially had complete knowledge of the president’s deterioration and chose not to divulge it, it’s not as if the rest of the respondents think otherwise.
Indeed, an additional 17% of those surveyed believe the VP was “somewhat” involved in the concealment scheme and 7% at least “a little.”
The one saving grace for Harris? Only 22% of Democrats, who look poised to nominate her for the presidency without the input of a single voter, think she knew a great deal about Biden’s issues.
What to know about President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race:
- President Biden announced Sunday he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race — after weeks of prominent Democrats and donors calling on him to withdraw following his disastrous performance in the first presidential debate.
- In a letter posted on X Sunday afternoon, Biden admitted that it is in the “best interest of my party and country” for him to step down as the Democratic nominee.
- Biden wrote that he intends to serve out the remainder of his term and will address the country on his decision later this week.
- In a follow-up X post, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the suddenly open Democratic nomination. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” the president wrote.
- Former President Donald Trump reacted to the news by labeling Biden the “worst president in the history of our country” in a call with CNN.
The left may be reluctant to assign its standard bearer complete culpability, but it doesn’t mean the rest of them are buying into the idea the president’s second in command didn’t have eyes to see what was happening to her boss over the years: 58% of Democrats and 64% of liberals allot her substantial blame at the least, and an additional 20% of Dems and 21% of liberals say she knew at least “a little” about Biden’s health and aging issues.
While Dems are more willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, it only goes so far: Only a small number on the left (12% of Democrats and 7% of liberals) believe Harris knew nothing at all about the president’s problems.
With Biden expected to stay in office for his term’s remainder, the right has already begun weaponizing voters’ perception of the VP’s deception.
Donald Trump’s MAGA Inc. super PAC produced an ad this week that says Harris was in on the coverup, deliberately concealing “Joe’s obvious mental decline.”
Expect more of this, especially if Biden continues to flash warning signs of a continued decline.