Potential Democratic Candidates If Biden Drops Out

In recent weeks, growing concerns over President Joe Biden’s age and his ability to serve a second term have fueled speculation about the possibility of him dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. While Biden’s campaign has vehemently denied these rumors, they have prompted discussions about potential Democratic candidates who could step in if he were to withdraw.

Vice President Kamala Harris is the most obvious candidate to replace Biden, should he drop out. However, her low approval ratings, currently standing at 38%, raise concerns about her ability to win the general election against former President Donald Trump, the GOP’s presumptive nominee.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has been rumored to be running a “shadow campaign” for the White House, but he has firmly dismissed these speculations, pledging his allegiance to Biden’s 2024 campaign.

Other Democratic governors, such as J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Jared Polis of Colorado, and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, have also been mentioned as potential alternatives to Biden. Despite their elevated national profiles and successful gubernatorial races in 2022, they have all expressed support for Biden and ruled out running against him.

Senator Bernie Sanders, who is only a year older than Biden, had not ruled out a run for president in 2024 in the event of an open primary. However, he has since pledged to sit out the race and endorsed Biden instead.

Current candidates running against Biden are not considered viable challengers, but they may see his potential dropout as an opportunity to build enthusiasm for their long-shot candidacies. These challengers include independents Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West, as well as Democratic primary contender Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota.

Despite unfounded theories circulating for years, Michelle Obama has repeatedly stated that she will never run for president and does not desire the job.

Even if Biden were to drop out, it would be unlikely for a new candidate to surpass his delegate count, as most filing deadlines to get on the primary ballot have already passed. However, delegates are not required to support the nominee at the party’s convention, so Biden could urge them to support another candidate if he were to drop out.

A recent ABC/Ipsos poll showed that 86% of Americans believe Biden is too old to serve another term, while 62% think the same of 77-year-old Trump. A Department of Justice report cleared Biden of criminal charges in its investigation of his handling of classified documents but raised concerns about his memory. The report alleged that Biden’s memory was “significantly limited” in interviews, leading to criticisms from Republicans about his fitness for a second term.

Despite these criticisms, Biden’s allies have staunchly defended him, with Pritzker stating that Biden is “on the ball” and Harris rebuking the report as “gratuitous, inaccurate, and inappropriate.”

In conclusion, while speculation about Biden’s potential dropout from the 2024 presidential race continues, the Democratic Party has several potential candidates who could step in if needed. However, Biden’s allies remain steadfast in their support, emphasizing his abilities and defending him against criticisms about his age and memory.