The recent presidential debate didn’t go down well with many a Democrat as well as Joe Biden supporters in general, the feeling is that all is not well in the Democratic camp.
After his somewhat disastrous performance at the debate, rumour has it that there is a possibility that he will step down as the presidential candidate although there is no precedent for this. Biden will only become the party’s official candidate when he is endorsed at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago which takes place between August 19 and 22.
Although there is no formal mechanism to replace him, he can choose to step aside and allow the delegates in the primaries to vote to nominate a candidate at the Chicago convention.
According to a Date for Progress flash poll, only 51% of Democrats think Biden should remain the party’s candidate.
Although there is no clear contender, here are some possibilities as to who could replace him:
Gavin Newsom
The popular governor from the state of California, won a lot of accolades for his debate with Florida governor Ron DeSantis last year.
However Newsom signed a budget on Saturday to close an estimated $46.8 billion deficit through $16 billion in spending cuts, raising taxes on some businesses.
These deficits however may not be a good thing for Newsom as he builds his national profile as a contender for the country’s top post.
JB Pritzker
Another front runner for the presidential candidate is JB Pritzker. The governor of Illinois is also one of the wealthiest politicans among the contenders. His wealth comes from running the Hyatt Hotels Corporation which has been part of the family business.
Gaining popularity for his strong stand on gun control and being a pro choice advocate, he is well known for his heated debates with Ron DeSantis and Texas governor Greg Abbott.
Gretchen Whitmer
The Michigan governor is also on the shortlist as a possible presidential candidate. Her mandate has always been stricter gun control, changing abortion laws and backing universal preschool.
During the pandemic, Whitmer drew some flak for her strict restrictions and social distancing policies which were thought to be overly rigid by many Americans. She later became the center of a kidnapping plot by militia which was foiled.
In a CBS report Whitmer told reporters that the difference between Donald Trump and Joe Biden could not be clearer. While Biden’s focus was on lowering families costs and building an economy that works for the working people as well as restoring reproductive freedom for women, Trump is a convicted felon whose focus is only on himself.
Kamala Harris
Although Harris seems like the obvious pick seeing as she is vice president to the current administration, Harris has poor polling approval and there are suggestions that she will not do well if she were to stand against Donald Trump. But that does not rule her out as a possible choice for Democrats. Additionally if Biden resigns right now, Harris is automatically president.