Reports suggest that President Joe Biden has a tendency to forget things, while Vice-President Kamala Harris struggles with a lack of visibility regarding her accomplishments. Biden, at 81 years old, performed poorly in the first presidential debate, raising concerns within the Democratic Party about his capability to serve another term. As a result, calls for him to step aside have increased, and Kamala Harris has emerged as a prominent alternative to Biden. However, other potential candidates are also being considered.
Influential Democrats have mentioned several alternatives to Biden, including popular Cabinet members and Democratic governors such as Gavin Newsom from California, Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, and Josh Shapiro from Pennsylvania. While these candidates have publicly supported Biden, they are being discussed as possible replacements in Democratic circles.
If Kamala Harris were to replace Biden and win the presidential election, she would make history as the first woman of colour elected as President of the United States. The Democrats need to make a decision soon, as the election is only 124 days away, scheduled for November 5, 2024.
The first presidential debate, held on June 27 in Atlanta, Georgia, and hosted by CNN, saw Donald Trump declared the winner by a CNN poll and The New York Times. Biden's performance was not just a defeat but a debacle, with observers noting moments where he seemed to lose focus, even suggesting he "fell asleep on stage." This criticism has intensified calls for Biden's replacement, despite his explanation at a fundraiser that his rigorous travel schedule contributed to his fatigue.
Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz, after a meeting with Biden, asserted that the President is "fit for office," despite acknowledging that the debate performance was poor. Walz emphasized Biden's ability to deliver results and lead against Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
Kamala Harris, seen as the natural choice to replace Biden, has received strong backing from influential figures like US Representative Jim Clyburn, a key player in Biden’s 2020 victory. The White House has referred to Harris as "the future of the Democratic Party," underscoring her potential to lead.
California Delegate Areva Martin warned that replacing Biden with anyone other than Harris could cause significant backlash from Black women within the Democratic Party. Harris is uniquely positioned to inherit the Biden campaign’s $240 million in funds, as their campaign account is registered jointly with the Federal Election Commission.
In a CNN poll, Harris and Trump are nearly tied, with 47% of registered voters supporting Trump and 45% backing Harris, indicating no clear leader. Despite Harris's potential, Americans have never elected a woman of color as President, and there are doubts about her ability to challenge a heavyweight candidate like Trump.
Other potential Democratic candidates include governors like Gavin Newsom from California, Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, JB Pritzker from Illinois, Josh Shapiro from Pennsylvania, and Wes Moore from Maryland. These candidates have supported Biden publicly but are being mentioned as possible alternatives.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been a vocal advocate for national Democratic issues and survived a recall election last year. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, re-elected in 2022, has been seen as a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential race and has frequently countered Republican critics, including Trump. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has also been mentioned as a potential candidate, though less prominently.
There are concerns that switching to Harris might drive away crucial swing voters. Tech mogul Reid Hoffman’s adviser, Dmitri Mehlhorn, expressed that Harris could be more threatening to swing voters than a struggling Biden. Lawyer John Morgan warned that a scramble for a Plan B could cause infighting and harm the party’s unity.
As the Democratic Party navigates these challenges, Kamala Harris remains the leading choice to replace Biden if he decides not to continue his re-election campaign. However, other candidates like Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, and Josh Shapiro are also being considered. With just 124 days remaining until the 2024 presidential election, the Democratic Party must carefully decide its path forward, ensuring unity and focus in the battle against Trump.
