President Biden’s The widely panned debate performance has sparked speculation that Democrats may change course midway and choose a new presidential candidate from the accepted slate.
Vice President Kamala Harris
Harris, 59, seems the most logical choice to ensure the smoothest transition as vice president, and there are already calls for her to succeed him.
“After much deep reflection over the past few days, I strongly believe that Kamala Harris is our best path forward,” said Tim Ryan, a former Democratic congressman and presidential candidate. Written in Newsweek magazine on monday.
Biden’s candidacy remains under threat as major Democratic donors balk
Possible candidates to replace Biden include Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer and Pete Buttigieg. (Getty Images)
The vice president’s approval rating has plummeted since taking office, and many experts have expressed concern. According to a poll Harris was viewed unfavorably by 53% of registered voters and positively by 28% of voters.
California Governor Gavin Newsom
If Democrats move away from Biden, perhaps at the Democratic National Convention in August, the candidate who has been most talked about in recent months as a possible successor is California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Newsom, 56, It has long been criticized Trump has waged a “shadow campaign” for the presidency over the past year, taking part in high-profile events including visits to China and Israel and a Fox News debate with Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Newsom said: Heading to New Hampshire Joe Biden, who is set to headline a Democratic campaign event this week just days after Biden’s debate, has consistently denied that he plans to perform on Biden’s behalf.
New national poll shows Trump outperforming Biden in debate
California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke to reporters after the 2024 presidential debate between President Biden and former President Trump in Atlanta on June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
“I will never turn my back on President Biden,” Newsom said after Thursday’s debate, “and I don’t think there are any Democrats in my party that would, and especially after tonight, we will support him.”
Newsom added, “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 doing. And I have no qualms.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Whitmer, who won reelection in 2022 by double-digit margins, Previously suggested Interest in the presidential elections is growing Rising to the top It has been high on the list of donor priorities in recent weeks.
Online supporters have been spreading the “Draft Gretsch” message, and after the debate, Politico reported that Governor Whitmer had spoken to Democratic leaders to repudiate the move and warn that Michigan was no longer Biden’s state.
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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (AP Photo/Alex Brandon/File)
Governor Whitmer later denied the report and reiterated her support for Biden.
“I am proud to endorse Joe Biden as my nominee and I stand with him 100% in the fight to defeat Donald Trump,” said Governor Whitmer. It said in a statement On Monday, Joe not only believes he can win Michigan, he knows he can because he has the evidence.”
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg
Buttigieg served as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, for eight years before gaining national fame when he ran for president in 2020, earning him the nickname “Mayor Pete.”
Speculation continues to grow that he would run in Biden’s place if he were to drop out of the race. Poor opinion polls Transportation issues across the country could hurt Buttigieg’s candidacy.
“No, that’s easy,” Buttigieg said. said on Friday When asked if he supported the effort to find a new candidate.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
Shapiro, 51, is governor of arguably the most important battleground state in the 2024 presidential election. Last year’s poll The poll showed he has a 57% approval rating for the job he’s doing, with 23% disapproving.
Shapiro defeated his Republican opponent by nearly 15 points and will take office in January 2023.
“Popular governor in a key battleground state” Allegheny County Republican Chairman Sam DeMarco Post to X “If you think he’s not going to get a call tonight, you’re fooling yourself,” he said after the presidential debate.
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Former President Trump (Felipe Ramares/File for Fox News Digital)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
Pritzker, who won reelection in 2022 by about 12 percentage points, He gave a victory speech Many believed it sounded like the words of a politician hoping to run for president in the future.
Pritzker I said earlier this year He criticized Democrats for “wasting their vote” if they supported anyone other than Biden.
Pritzker, 57, a billionaire stock investor and philanthropist, has been one of the most vocal Democrats opposed to former President Trump.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear
Beshear comes from one of Kentucky’s most popular political families. Won reelection He campaigned in the deep red state as a Democrat last year and has recently been rumored to be a leading candidate to succeed Biden.
Beshear told reporters on Monday that although Biden’s performance in the recent debate was “shoddy,” he has no plans to rejoin the presidential fray unless Biden drops out of the race.
“He’s the nominee and as long as he is, I support him,” Beshear said.
A new national poll, conducted in the aftermath of last week’s presidential debate and Biden’s extremely tough performance, shows Trump leading Biden in a 2024 rematch.
The USA Today/Suffolk University poll, conducted Friday through Sunday and released Tuesday, found the former president has an approval rating of 41% among registered voters nationwide, while Biden has an approval rating of 38%.
The last USA Today/Suffolk University poll, conducted in May, found the incumbent Democratic presidential candidate and his Republican predecessor tied at 37% for approval.
On Tuesday, the first Democrats in Congress called on Biden to resign.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas said in a statement that Biden “must make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw.”
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“My decision to publicly express these strong concerns was not made lightly and does not in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has accomplished,” Doggett said. “Unlike President Trump, I know that President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, and I expect him to make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw, and I respectfully urge him to do so.”
Biden campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said there hadn’t been “any” internal discussions about Biden stepping down, but he too acknowledged the president had a “bad night” onstage.
Fox News Digital’s Jamie Joseph, Paul Steinhauser, Kyle Morris and Greg Wehner and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
