President Biden’s The Democrats’ performance in the widely criticised debate has set off a storm of speculation over whether the Democrats will change horses mid-way and choose a new presidential nominee from the list of generally accepted candidates.
Vice President Kamala Harris
Harris, 59, seems the most logical candidate, as it would be the smoothest transition given her status as vice president, and there have already been some calls for her to take over.
“After a lot of thought over the last few days, I firmly believe that Kamala Harris is the best path forward,” said former Democratic congressman and presidential candidate Tim Ryan. wrote in newsweek on Monday.
Biden’s candidacy in jeopardy as top Democratic donors stay cold
Potential replacements for Joe Biden include Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer and Pete Buttigieg. (Getty Images)
Many experts have raised concerns about the vice president’s approval ratings as his polling numbers have declined sharply since he took office. Earlier this year, The poll revealed Harris is viewed negatively by 53% of registered voters overall, while 28% of registered voters view her positively.
California Governor Gavin Newsom
If Democrats do move away from Biden, possibly at the Democratic National Convention in August, the most talked-about successor in recent months would be California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Newsom, 56, said, has been accused for a long time Accused of running a “shadow campaign” for the presidency last year, he attended a number of high-profile events, including trips to China and Israel and a highly publicized debate on Fox News with Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Newsom, Joe Towards New Hampshire Joe Biden, who keynoted a Democratic campaign event just days after Biden’s debate performance this week, has consistently denied any plans to step in for Biden.
Debate gives Trump lead over Biden, according to new national poll
California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks to reporters after the presidential debate between President Biden and former President Trump, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
“I would never turn my back on President Biden,” Newsom said Thursday after the debate. “I don’t know any Democrat in my party who would do that. And especially after tonight, we’re with him.”
Newsom said: “I’ve spent a lot of time with him. I know Joe Biden. I know what he’s accomplished over the last three and a half years. I know what he’s capable of. And I have no misgivings.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Whitmer, who won re-election by a double-digit margin in 2022, previously indicated is interested in running for president and has reportedly reached the top It has been at the top of the list of donor preferences in recent weeks.
Online supporters have been pushing a “Draft Gretch” message, and Politico reported after the debate that Whitmer spoke to Democratic Party leadership and rejected the movement, while also warning that Michigan is no longer in play for Biden.
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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer speaks at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Oxon Hill, Maryland on May 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Whitmer later rejected that reporting and reiterated her support for Biden.
“I am proud to endorse Joe Biden as our nominee, and I am with him 100 percent in the fight to defeat Donald Trump,” Whitmer said. A statement said on Monday. “Not only do I believe Joe can win at Michigan, but I know he can win because he has the receipts.”
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
Buttigieg emerged on the national scene in 2020 when he ran for president after serving for eight years as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, earning him the nickname “Mayor Pete.”
There has been growing speculation that he would be willing to step forward if Biden were to drop out of the race, but Low voter turnout figures Transportation issues in the United States could potentially harm Buttigieg’s candidacy.
“No, it’s easy,” Buttigieg said on friday When asked if he would support the effort to find a new candidate.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
Shapiro, 51, is currently serving as governor of perhaps the most important swing state in the 2024 presidential election and Last year’s vote He has a 57% approval rating for his job in the Commonwealth, while 23% disapprove.
Shapiro defeated his Republican opponent by nearly 15 points and will take office in January 2023.
“Popular governor of a key swing state,” Allegheny County Republican Party Chairman Sam DeMarco Posted on X “If you don’t think he’s getting calls tonight, you’re fooling yourself,” he said after CNN’s presidential debate.
Donald Trump will arrive at Trump Tower on May 30, 2024, where he will be found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. (Felipe Ramales for Fox News Digital)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
Pritzker, who was reelected in 2022 by nearly 12 points, gave a victory speech Many believed the talk sounded like a talk from a politician who might want to run for president one day.
Pritzker said earlier this year Democrats are “wasting their votes” if they support anyone other than Biden.
Pritzker, a 57-year-old billionaire equity investor and philanthropist, has been one of the most outspoken Democrats against former President Trump.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear
Beshear is a member of one of Kentucky’s most popular political families. won re-election He ran in the deep-red state as a Democrat last year and was recently rumored to be a top candidate to replace Biden.
Beshear told reporters Monday that even though Biden’s performance in recent debates was “poor,” he has no intention of joining the presidential race unless Biden drops out of the race.
“He’s the candidate, and as long as he’s the candidate, I’ll support him,” Beshear said.
Trump has pulled ahead of Biden for a 2024 reelection bid following last week’s presidential debate, according to a new national poll conducted in the wake of Biden’s poor performance.
The USA Today/Suffolk University poll, conducted Friday through Sunday and released Tuesday, has the former president at 41% support among registered voters nationwide, while Biden has 38%.
The last USA Today/Suffolk University poll, conducted in May, had the Democratic current president and his Republican predecessor in the White House at 37%.
On Tuesday, the first elected Democrat in Congress called on Biden to step down.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas said in a statement Tuesday that Biden “must make the painful and difficult decision to step back.”
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“My decision to make these strong objections public is not taken lightly, nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has accomplished,” Doggett said. “Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, not to himself, I expect he will make the painful and difficult decision to step back. I respectfully call on him to do so.”
Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said there have been no internal conversations about Biden stepping down, though he also acknowledged the president had a “bad night” on stage.
Fox News Digital’s Jamie Joseph, Paul Steinhauser, Kyle Morris, Greg Weiner and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
