Amidst growing unease about President Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election viability, Vice President Kamala Harris emerges as a potential frontrunner as polls show her leading over Biden.
Short Summary:
- President Biden reassures allies amidst growing panic over his re-election bid.
- Vice President Harris is being increasingly seen as a potential candidate for the 2024 election.
- New polls show Biden trailing behind Donald Trump while Harris performs better.
The political atmosphere in Washington, D.C., is becoming increasingly tense as President Joe Biden faces mounting pressure to reconsider his 2024 re-election campaign. In a week marked by frantic reassurances and mounting calls for his withdrawal, Biden finds himself buttressing his position amid a storm of skepticism following his less-than-stellar debate performance against former President Donald Trump.
“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can: I am running,” President Biden unequivocally stated during a call with campaign staff, attempting to dispel increasing doubts. “I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win.”
During this tumultuous period, Biden has been reaching out to close allies, Democratic governors, legislators, and campaign staff. Alongside him in these efforts has been Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now being viewed by many within the Democratic Party as a possible replacement if Biden decides to step down.
“He has done more than 40 interviews this year alone, and we’re going to continue that,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated. “Those were unscripted. He’s done more than 500 ‘gaggles.’ Those are unscripted. And we want to continue to do that.”
Biden’s campaign is also set to tap into media channels. The President has taped interviews with Black radio shows “The Earl Ingram Show” and “The Source with Andrea Lawful-Sanders,” which are scheduled to air on Thursday morning. Additionally, he will sit for an interview with ABC News on Friday, followed by a press conference during the NATO summit next week.
Despite these efforts, polling data continues to paint a concerning picture for Biden. The New York Times/Siena College poll revealed a 49% to 41% lead for Trump among registered voters. Similarly, a Wall Street Journal poll and a CNN poll present an unfavorable outlook for Biden. This trio of polls, conducted shortly after the debate, indicates an immediate negative voter reaction, although opinions may evolve as time progresses.
On the back of these polls, Democratic party members are urging Biden to consider stepping aside for the sake of the party’s future. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Rep. Jim Clyburn, and other noted Democratic figures have been drawn into discussions with Biden to address the party’s concerns.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, became the first congressional Democrat to openly call for Biden to withdraw. “Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so,” Doggett expressed.
Pressure is also growing from other quarters. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., urged Biden to consider stepping down. “If he’s the candidate, I’m going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere,” Grijalva said, reflecting the sentiment that Biden should prioritize the party’s success over his campaign.
Amid this backdrop, the focus on Vice President Kamala Harris has intensified. Harris, who has struggled to leave an indelible mark as the second-in-command, is now being spotlighted as a potential successor. Several Democrats are echoing a fresh interest in her candidacy, seeing her as a more viable candidate against Trump.
Rep. James Clyburn, a key Biden ally in 2020, hinted at the possibility of backing Harris. “I would support her campaign if Biden chose to drop out,” Clyburn remarked, underlining a cautiously optimistic outlook for Harris’s increased role.
The political pressure comes not just from the upper echelons but also from rank-and-file Democrats and other lawmakers who question Biden’s fitness for office, particularly spotlighting his age and cognitive abilities. For instance, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., shared her skepticism openly. “I was one of them for about five very painful minutes. We all saw what we saw, you can’t undo that, and the truth I think, is that Biden is going to lose to Trump,” Perez summarized after watching the debate.
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Election forecasters have already started revising their outlooks. The University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, for example, has shifted Michigan’s rating to a tossup from leans Democratic, a clear reflection of the debate’s impact on Biden’s campaign.
Biden’s age and questions about his mental fitness to serve another term have long been problematic for his campaign, with voters expressing more concern about him than Trump. Polls indicate that even within the Democratic base, unease about Biden’s recognition of these issues remains high.
Nevertheless, Biden’s campaign continues to highlight his extensive experience and accomplishments as strengths. But with Trump’s nearly equivalent age at 78, voters seem more troubled by Biden’s perceived frailties. Jean-Pierre’s statements aim to counteract these concerns, emphasizing that Biden’s numerous unscripted engagements illustrate his competence.
“One interview isn’t going to fix this,” Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., noted. “I think the campaign’s got to listen to people. And by the way, I think the campaign needs to listen to us.”
In a move to further solidify his candidacy, Biden is scheduled to embark on several public appearances, including visits to the battleground states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. These appearances are crucial for minimizing the damage inflicted by his debate performance and restoring voter confidence.
However, the political landscape remains unpredictable. The upcoming debate in September presents an opportunity for Biden to recover, yet it also holds the risk of further setbacks. Commentators like Chris Devine suggest that Trump could strategically opt-out of the debate to prevent Biden from gaining ground.
“You’re not going to make this impression go away. It’s there. It’s part of the public record, it caught people’s attention. You’re not going to just get rid of it somehow. But to overcome it takes a lot, and it takes a certain type of moment,” Devine asserted.
With speculation growing, Biden finds himself at a crossroads. He has admitted to mistakes during the debate, telling a Wisconsin radio station that he made a “mistake” and urging voters to retain their judgment based on his tenure. Nevertheless, his adamant stance of continuing the race is paralleled by a strategic effort to reassure and galvanize his base.
“Let me say this as clearly and simply as I can: I’m running,” Biden reiterated in a fundraising email post-call. His assertion was equally pronounced, “I’m the nominee of the Democratic Party. No one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving.”
As the Democratic Party wrestles with an unpredictable and challenging political scenario, the future remains uncertain. The path ahead for Biden, his campaign, and the broader Democratic machinery will be defined by how effectively they navigate the current crisis and the vantage offered by Harris’s revived potential candidacy.
