“Democrats are privately discussing replacing from Biden as a presidential candidate,” writes the Wall Street Journal. “Democratic representatives and senators are also unhappy, reports the Financial Times. “We need a new candidate,” say the majority.
President Joe Biden’s disappointing appearance in the televised duel against by Donald Trump caused panic among many Democratic Party supporters. “The game is over,” a longtime Democratic campaign adviser told US broadcaster CNBC. A Biden aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Hill: “This is a true nightmare. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. I’m watching us lose this election in slow motion.” David Axelrod, one of Barack Obama’s top advisers, added that “people’s fears about Biden’s inability have been confirmed.
But is it possible that Biden will withdraw from the race now? Only Biden himself can make that decision. “There is no plan B,” explains Democratic political commentator Eli Jacobs. “Biden and Trump have both gone through the democratic primary process. Only health problems or the realization that he needs a successor could derail Biden’s candidacy. But changing candidates is harder than it seems. If Biden’s own party now weakens its candidate against his will, that would be a disaster,” he adds.
Neither Biden nor Kamala Harris
Biden’s call for a “democratic vote” to combat the scourge of Trump is no longer convincing and is fading into unprecedented apathy that could lead to fewer Americans voting than in the past. In this case, the “hard core” of Trump’s followers would be proportionally stronger.
For these reasons, many are wondering why Biden doesn’t back down and put forward a more credible Democratic candidate, given that Vice President Kamala Harris has proven to be a major disappointment and has gradually lost the charisma that propelled her to the vice presidency. “Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, is still considered a natural successor to Biden. However, her poll numbers are just as bad as the president’s. So far, she has failed to develop her own profile, let alone escape the negative headlines.
“Undoubtedly, a Biden withdrawal hides many difficulties, as a new Democratic candidate would not have time to advertise in the country. But it could also be a great opportunity to spark enthusiasm on the Democratic side and give the campaign a boost. Someone younger and fresher would dominate the headlines for weeks. This is exactly what could mobilize those who are currently distancing themselves from Biden. And mobilization within your own camp will be, as I said, a decisive factor”, emphasize the American journalists.
USA: Voices grow for a replacement for Biden after the debate disaster
The “star” of California
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s name is already being heard. The Navy had written months ago, citing American journalists, that the California governor was collecting contributions from supportersto replace Biden as the candidate if necessary. At 56, Newsom is at the beginning of a brilliant career. He even met with the Chinese president in Beijing last October, ahead of the meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in San Francisco on November 15. “Newsom is a modern personification of liberal California. He was mayor of San Francisco and established same-sex marriage on his own initiative. He has a touch of Hollywood and follows in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan (although he rejects his political agenda). After all, Reagan came to the White House as acting governor of California”, note the same sources in “N”.
Newsom has been running a sort of shadow campaign since the beginning of the year. He founded the Democracy Campaign fundraising committee, campaigned across the country and increased his political standing, even meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He embodies modern America
The 56-year-old governor embodies the vision of a modern America, was a successful baseball player and is considered an intelligent representative of a liberal political discourse. However, he is much further to the left than Joe Biden. He has even sued the oil companies Exxon, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and BP for their alleged complicity in global warming. He aggressively supports abortion rights, universal health insurance for undocumented immigrants, the legalization of marijuana, strict gun laws and immigrant rights. He has characterized the historical treatment of Native Americans as genocide and is one of the most prominent opponents of the death penalty. To win the presidential election, he would have to move even further to the center, political analysts advise.
Newsom, however, defended Biden after the televised debate with Trump. Questions about a possible alternative to the president “are useless and unnecessary,” he said.
Newsom also struggles with a personal disability. He suffers from a severe form of dyslexia, which he discusses openly. As a result, he was unable to attend a public university and never read a novel in his life.
Political observers speculated in early 2024 that Newsom was strategically preparing for the 2028 presidential campaign. The risk of political harm if he intervened on short notice is likely significant.
Gretchen Whitmer
Among the “successor” candidates is Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The 52-year-old was already on Biden’s list for vice president in 2020. During Trump’s term, she was one of the biggest critics of his pandemic policies. In the controversy over the abortion ban, the governor made it clear by law that abortion would remain legal in her state. “He is definitely part of our next generation of leaders, not just in the state, but across the country,” said Representative Debbie Stepinau. Whitmer can also count on the support of General Motors, which wants to massively expand production of electric cars and batteries in Michigan.
Pete Buttige
Pete Buttige, 42, Biden’s transportation secretary, is also emerging as a possible successor candidate, having initially campaigned for the Democratic nomination. But he withdrew and endorsed Biden.
He studied at Harvard and Oxford and has come out as gay. He frequently mentions his husband Chasten in his speeches and describes his marriage to her as the ultimate expression of freedom. A freedom he sees as at risk in an America under Trump. Buttige benefits from being able to win over both conservative and progressive voters,
Of course, there are other names floating around who reportedly have ambitions to run for president now, after Biden’s possible departure: billionaire and Illinois governor JB Pritzker, Maryland governor Tammy Daworth, Wes Moore, New Jersey governor, Gov. Pennsylvania Senator Josh Shapiro and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker