It appears that President Joe Biden is facing multiple challenges now.

CNN reported on November 15 that Biden’s aides in the West Wing of the White House felt worn out by Vice President Kamala Harris and her staff’s lack of focus and inability to perform their functions. While Biden’s approval rating continues to slip and there are rumors that he would only serve for a single-term, the President appears to be wary of Harris now, which puts her in a difficult situation.

CNN interviewed more than 30 current and former aides of Harris, Biden administration officials, Democratic operatives, donors, and outside advisers, where they exposed the complex reality inside the White House. Biden and Harris’ teams were dissatisfied with each other and were in conflict. People around Harris were discontented that she is not being adequately prepared or positioned, and instead is being sidelined. She told several of her confidants she felt constrained in politics. The Vice President’s confidents were wary of hinting her political ambitions, as Biden's team is taking note on any signs of disloyalty, particularly from Harris.

Biden’s aides stated that they are busy saving Biden’s declining reputation, and without paying attention to Harris. The tensions and conflicts between the two teams continue to accumulate.

Biden's approval rating dips to new low of 41%. If Biden abandons to run for the next presidential election, Harris will need to strategize for her own election next year. Conversely if Biden decides to run for re-election, Harris will fully assist him in the next three years.

People familiar with the situation said that whether it is running for the presidential election herself or assisting Biden in re-election, Harris is not ready. She is the first female Vice President of the United States, and a woman of color in that position. The outside world has high expectations on her, and tends to be unforgiving even in the smallest mistakes.

It has also been pointed out that Harris’ staff has always been her Achilles' heel and this has been a problem since she was a San Francisco District Attorney. In her early days of vice presidency, she leaned heavily on her family members, like her sister Maya Harris, her brother-in-law Tony West and her niece, Meena Harris. After being criticized, her relatives have been pushed further out, but she felt isolated again and there was no one that she can trust.

In fact, Harris is the first Vice President in Washington with less experience than the President in the past few decades. Generally, presidential candidates of the two parties will find an experienced deputy, such as Obama who approached Biden back then. Harris lacks experience and can hardly stand firm in the White House. In addition, the aides of the President and the Vice President are prone to conflicts, such as Obama's aides and those of Biden's.

When Biden first came to power, Harris would stand beside him every time he made an important speech. Yet after the over-reaction of the West Wing, the number of Harris’ appearances has drastically reduced. Her confidents believe that Biden no longer fulfills his obligation to support her, and he now allows her to fail. Harris’ approval is lower than Biden’s, and supporters worry that the Democratic Party has begun to abandon her.

If a U.S. President's term ends and does not run for re-election, the Vice President has higher chances to take over, but the Democratic Party is now speculating enthusiastically who will challenge Kamala Harris, and some ambitious politicians have privately admitted that they are thinking about their next steps.