The possibility of replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate began to gain traction after the first commercial break in the TV debate between him and Donald Trump. With the Democratic convention in Chicago just two months away, some within the party started questioning whether Biden was the best choice to lead them into victory.
However, it’s important to note that the rules of the convention state that Biden cannot be denied the nomination without his consent. If he were to step aside willingly, then it would open up a new set of possibilities for his vice president, Kamala Harris, or other potential candidates like Gretchen Whitmer or Josh Shapiro.
There are concerns that if Harris were to become the Democratic nominee, she may not be as popular among voters as Biden. Some worry that Trump could use her perceived progressiveness against her and argue that a vote for Biden would ultimately lead to her being president. However, others believe that if Democrats truly believe Trump poses a significant threat to American democracy, then both Biden and Harris should consider stepping aside.
Another potential candidate for vice president is Roy Cooper, who is set to leave office in North Carolina. While there are concerns about alienating African-American voters by nominating Whitmer, a Whitmer/Shapiro ticket may fare better than a Biden/Harris ticket in swing states where Biden is currently trailing.
Ultimately, while Biden is expected to emerge as the Democratic candidate following the convention, it’s up to American voters to decide who they want leading their party into battle against Trump. If a different candidate like Whitmer can win over undecided voters and those who do not support either candidate, then they could potentially sway the outcome of this election where a few thousand votes could make all the difference.