Bowing out quietly Biden focuses on his legacy and a Harris win

When a reporter asked if the White House had started the transition process, Karine Jean-Pierre seemed bemused.

- David Smith

"Why?" the press secretary said.

"Are you trying to kick us out already? We've got five months." Whatever excitement there is in American politics, the White House is not at the centre of it. Since Joe Biden, 81, ended his re-election campaign after losing the confidence of fellow Democrats, his schedule has been quieter and his public appearances more scarce.

As the party's new nominee, the vice-president, Kamala Harris, 59, barnstorms the country and electrifies crowds, there are some days when Biden lies low and is not seen. Such absences can create an impression that Biden is not running through the tape but staggering across the finish line. The vacuum can be filled by baseless rightwing conspiracy theories suggesting he is no longer fit for office and that Harris, the former president Barack Obama or some other deep state operative is running the government.