A CNN panel argued Tuesday that Kamala Harris’ ties to the Biden administration were a “weakness” for her because she is the current vice president and continues to make price gouging and lowering the cost of housing a key part of her campaign.

“If this is the price gouging she’s talking about in the ad, surely there’s someone in the White House who can do something about it,” said Wall Street Journal reporter Annie Linskey, referring to a new Harris ad that takes aim at price gouging.

The panel discussed the ad, which said Harris would lower grocery prices by cracking down on profiteering, and President Biden’s return to the campaign trail on Monday.

“The difficult path she has to take is either to distance herself a little bit from the president or to say she’s going to solve some of the problems that Americans are facing. But she’s also in power now,” she added.

HARRIS MAKES A U-TURN ON SEVERAL FAR-LEFT POLICY PLANS AND DISTANCES FROM BIDEN

A CNN panel discussed Vice President Kamala Harris’ ties to the Biden administration and whether it would be damaging to her campaign. (Screenshot/CNN)

Democratic National Committee adviser Brad Woodhouse responded sharply to GOP criticism of Harris’ message, saying her focus on rent-seeking reflected her background as a prosecutor. He added that Harris wanted to take on “big box stores and real estate speculators.”

Woodhouse also insisted that Biden was key to rallying the Democratic base for Harris. The president appeared with Harris at a Labor Day event in Pittsburgh.

CNN’s Paula Reid said Harris’ ties to Biden were a “weakness” for Harris’ campaign as Americans are angry about the economy.

Erin Perinne, a former Trump campaign adviser, said it was an easy way for former President Trump to attack Harris.

President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at IBEW Local Union #5 on September 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ((Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images))

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“This is Kamala Harris holding back progress. If she’s in the White House, and she’s in the White House now, why aren’t they working to get things done? If you can deliver today, why wait until tomorrow? That’s ineffective leadership at best. And Republicans have every reason and opportunity to say, you want to look at the direction the country is going? It’s because of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. You want to know why things are more expensive today? It’s because of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” Perinne said.

Linskey said part of the problem with Harris’ focus on profiteering was that it “doesn’t really seem to be the problem,” citing economists.

“Grocery prices have gone up, and that’s absolutely true. But this is kind of a solution in search of a problem. But it’s polling really well. And it also gives the Democrats a new villain,” she said.

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“When I hear about excessive prices, I say, look, this is not the real cause of the price increase. There are many other issues that have contributed to the price increase,” she added.