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WASHINGTON.- The recent presidential debate made it clear that Joe Biden did not come out favored. Biden’s heated exchanges and weak performance led many within the Democratic Party to consider alternativesand sparked a wave of discussions in the media about possible replacements in case the president decides not to continue his re-election campaign.
Although There is still no evidence that Biden is willing to end his campaignDemocrats could opt for an open nomination process at the Democratic National Convention in August, according to the media PoliticalThis would require some delegates from states Biden won to not accept the results of their local primaries and vote for another presidential candidate.
Given this news, speculation is already underway and some names they began to resonate strongly in political and media circles. Talks about a possible replacement have intensified, especially after Biden’s debate performance, which many consider insufficient to ensure his re-election. Given this scenario, Who could step forward and become the new standard-bearer of the Democratic Party?
As second in command, Vice President Kamala Harris would be one of the most obvious choices to replace Biden. However, if Biden withdraws, his delegates would not automatically transfer to her, and she would still need to win a majority of delegates at the Democratic National Convention. Although Harris would benefit from name recognition, since she became vice president has struggled with his public image and low approval ratingsHarris has been at the forefront of highlighting the Biden administration’s efforts to protect reproductive rights and defended Biden following Thursday’s debate.
Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, is a rising star in the Democratic Party who has not ruled out a presidential run in the future. As governor, Whitmer has championed gun safety measures, abortion access and civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ residents. Last year, Whitmer launched a national political group in an effort to raise her public profile. Her leadership on progressive issues and growing recognition make her a strong candidate to replace Biden.
Like Whitmer, the governor of California, Gavin Newsomis another frequently mentioned name for a possible candidacy in 2028who could become a replacement in 2024. Newsom has been building a national network of supporters and donors in recent yearsgained further national attention including a prime-time debate against Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, last year. She has also enjoyed an increasingly warm relationship with Biden. Newsom defended Biden’s record from the press room after Thursday’s debate.
Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker, a billionaire businessman, has also been raising his national profile in recent years. In 2023, Pritzker launched a national nonprofit group to fund abortion rights measures across the country. Pritzker harshly criticized Trump in a series of posts on X on Thursday night, calling him “a criminal convicted of 34 charges who only cares about himself” and “a liar”.
Having made his national ambitions clear with a presidential bid in 2020, Pete Buttigieg He could also be a possible replacement for Biden. Buttigieg has been serving in Biden’s cabinet as Secretary of Transportation, where it has had to face a series of crises, including the train derailment in East Palestine, the collapse of Southwest Airlines last winter, the collapse of the Baltimore bridge and the crisis at Boeing. In X’s account he describes himself as: “Husband, father, veteran, writer, former mayor of South Bend Pete.”
There are other names that resonate in the Democratic field including the governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapirothe governor of Maryland, Wes Moorethe governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooperand Georgia Senator, Raphael G. Warnockamong others.
AP, AFP and Reuters agencies
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