Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) suggested having former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton vet Democratic candidates to succeed President Biden before battling in a “mini-primary” on Friday.
In an interview with MSNBC, Rep. Lofgren, 76, said Democrats would need to quickly find a new candidate to be the front-runner if the 81-year-old president were to drop out of the race — something he has already done to urge the president to drop out.
“Swift action is going to be needed,” the California Democrat said, noting Vice President Kamala Harris should be considered as a front-runner.
“I don’t think there will be a coronation, but the vice president is clearly going to be the front-runner,” Lofgren argued.
“I think something like a mini-primary hosted by former presidents, including Obama and Clinton, would be beneficial and help draw attention,” the congressman continued.
Lofgren said he believes whoever emerges from the effort, including Harris, will be “a stronger candidate than if we had tried to eliminate a transparent public process.”
Lofgren said in a letter to Biden on Friday that she had asked him to resign.
“Simply put, your candidacy is on track to lose the White House and could have ramifications for upcoming key House and Senate elections,” she wrote. “For these reasons, I strongly encourage you to withdraw from your party’s nomination so that another Democratic candidate can compete against and defeat Donald Trump in the November election.”
Lofgren is one of more than 30 House Democrats who have pleaded with Biden to end his reelection effort.
The president has not indicated any intention to withdraw from the election.
