Days before President Biden announced on Sunday that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, Fox News Digital spoke to delegates and attendees at last week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee about who they think will succeed Biden.
Kansas delegate Mike Stewart predicted Democrats would field Harris as vice president if Biden were to withdraw. “It doesn’t really matter because I think she’s a very weak candidate.“
Steuben added that “it would be a real problem for the Democratic Party” if they decided to sideline Harris and field another candidate.
Convention president Patty O’Brien said she doesn’t think Biden will actually drop out because there are no quality candidates “in the wings” to replace him.
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Fox News Digital last week asked delegates to the Republican National Convention what would happen next if Biden withdraws. (Fox News Digital)
“But it should probably go to Kamala,” she told Fox News Digital.
“I think [former President] “Trump is going to crush whoever they put forward,” one attendee said, adding that Biden seemed “on his way out.”
“It wouldn’t be a problem at all” if Harris were the nominee, or if California Governor Gavin Newsom or former first lady Michelle Obama were the nominee, one attendee said. “I think people are starting to realize that it’s not the people’s party anymore, so it doesn’t matter.”
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President Biden announced Sunday that he was withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/File)
“I think he understands, and I think his peers understand, that he needs to step down, so he will. I have no idea who will take his place. I hope it’s not Kamala, but I have no idea,” another attendee said.
Another attendee told Fox News Digital there were “mixed feelings” about who would replace Biden, given that Harris is thought to be the only candidate with ready access to Biden’s funds, calling it “a really unusual situation.”
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Former President Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York City on May 30, 2024. (Felipe Ramares for Fox News Digital)
Biden announced Sunday he was ending his 2024 reelection campaign amid growing pressure from within his Democratic Party to withdraw following his disastrous performance in last month’s debate with President Trump.
The unprecedented announcement comes as a growing number of Democrats are publicly calling for Biden to step down, and party leaders are reportedly working to convince the 81-year-old president that he cannot defeat former 2024 Republican nominee Trump, whom Biden defeated to win the White House four years ago, in November’s general election.
“Serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my life,” Biden said in an open letter to Harris, who endorsed her. “While I intended to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and our country to step aside for the remainder of my term and focus solely on fulfilling the duties of my presidency.”
Biden said he plans to formally address the nation about his decision this week.
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
