Harris softens Biden's dark warnings about the state of democracy for a more 'joyful' message

WASHINGTON — Gone are Joe Biden’s dark warnings about the life-and-death stakes for American democracy.

Instead, Kamala Harris talks animatedly about protecting abortion rights and capping drug costs, lowering inflation and boosting the middle class.

Whereas Biden dwelled on the MAGA movement's threat to democracy, Harris is delivering a sunnier vision of a nation made up of "neighbors, not enemies."

Less than three weeks after Biden pulled out of the presidential race, his successor is in the early stages of retooling his campaign message, making it her own.

Harris is differentiating herself from Biden, amplifying positions that reflect her own priorities and commitment to running what she calls a "joyful" campaign. She expects to roll out more defined plans for what she’d do at the start of a presidential term, giving voters a clearer picture of how she would govern, people close to her said.

As early as next week, Harris will begin to highlight unfinished pieces of Biden’s agenda that she'd champion as president, including universal child care, paid family leave, affordable housing and a minimum wage increase, according to a person familiar with the discussion, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"She's going to say we're all in this together. Bringing people together is what the country needs, and it's great f------ politics," said Jim Messina, who managed Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign.

No one in Harris’ orbit expects her to repudiate Biden’s policies. As vice president, Harris is tethered to his record — good parts and bad.

A recent campaign ad from a Democratic super PAC described how Harris had “fought to cap the price of insulin” at $35 a month — crediting her with what Biden has long touted as one of