Democratic Party at Crossroads: Biden’s 2024 Run Uncertain
The Democratic party is currently in the throes of confusion, wrestling with the question of whether incumbent President Joe Biden should run the race in the 2024 election or step aside. With the debate opening further fissures within party lines, the focus shifts to whether his Vice President, Kamala Harris, could potentially succeed him, or if a ‘mini primary’ ought to quickly be put into action to select an alternative nominee ahead of the party convention in August. Interestingly, Kamala Harris’ political tour found her bracing the wind in Provincetown, Massachusetts, drawing support from the State’s influential Democratic Senator, Elizabeth Warren. In Warren’s viewpoint, if Biden decides to bow out, Kamala Harris could ‘step up’ to fill his presidential shoes.
An event hosted by Harris reportedly generated a funding of $2 million and had approximately 1,000 participants in attendance. Even so, Harris seemingly played the benign observer, avoiding any mention of the clamor for Biden to make way or of her possibly supplanting him. Instead, she chose to reiterate a familiar campaign mantra. The reality, however, is that Harris’ ascension to the top of the ticket, which would be an unprecedented historical moment for the Democratic party as she would be the first woman, Black person, and individual of South Asian descent nominated for the presidency, is far from assured.
Top-ranking Democratic officials, among them House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, are leaning towards endorsing an open process, in the belief that it could fortify any potential Democratic nominee against Republican Donald Trump. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, commenting on the contention, warned that accepting Harris as an automatic successor to Biden would be a miscalculation: ‘If you think that there is consensus among the people who want Joe Biden to exit… that they will support Kamala, Vice President Harris, you would be mistaken.’
Intriguingly, the publicly aired discussions within the Democratic party have nurtured an air of suspense and unsettlement. Biden now faces formidable decisions that not only bear national implications but also possibly determine his party’s future trajectory as the nation gears up for the November election. This situation forms a curious juxtaposition with Republicans, who, following years of internal strife over Trump, are showing renewed and enthusiastic support for his right-wing dominance of the GOP despite his legal obstacles.
Biden’s bid to quell the ruckus within his party through numerous campaign stops and interviews, coupled with his assertion of being the most suitable candidate to face Trump again, appears to be falling on deaf ears. Numerous Democrats remain skeptical about his ability to retain the presidency following his poor debate show last month, fueling the fear that he may drag the party’s prospects of dominating Congress down with him. Against this backdrop, Rep. Mark Takano, the top Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, added his name to the increasing list of Democrats in Congress opining that it’s time for Biden to relinquish his place in the race.
Echoing this sentiment, Californian Rep. Mark Takano implored Biden to ‘pass the torch’ to Harris. It’s anticipated that more Democrats will voice similar concerns. Donors have also expressed doubts. Kentucky’s Democrat Rep. Morgan McGarvey admitted: ‘There is no joy in the recognition he should not be our nominee in November’. Meanwhile, the President is sequestered in Delaware, recuperating from COVID
Besides this physical isolation, Biden appears to be politically isolated as well, confining himself to a small bubble of close advisers and family. Despite reports that his condition is improving and commitments to continue the campaign, his readiness to combat Trump’s ‘dark vision’ slated for the following week is open to question. Biden, in a recent statement, however, has remained resolute and adamant: ‘Together, as a party and as a country, we can and will defeat him at the ballot box’. But these words seem confined to his beachfront home in Delaware.
The murmurs for Biden to make his exit from the race continue to swell outside his isolated bubble. While few of the Democrat lawmakers pushing for his withdrawal have indicated Harris as their choice, some favor an open nomination process that could back a fresh candidate. It’s been suggested that a more democratic approach, like the one advocated by Pelosi, would better serve the potential presidential hopeful, as it could only further strengthen them in the electoral arena.
A spokesperson, discussing Pelosi’s thought process anonymously, suggested that the interest of this potential candidate would best be served by such a process. Echoing these thoughts, Rep Zoe Lofgren of California, an ally of Pelosi, and who had also previously urged Biden to step down, mentioned the concept of a ‘mini-primary’ including Harris as a realistic possibility. Democratic Senators Jon Tester of Montana and Peter Welch of Vermont have both suggested Biden’s exit and explicitly stated their preference for an open nomination process
While the idea of such an open process seems ideal to some, others firmly believe such a move would be politically unthinkable and logistically unfeasible, especially considering the minimal time left for a virtual candidate nomination vote planned for early next month. Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum, who called for Biden’s withdrawal, has openly endorsed Harris as the best replacement, expressing in her statement, ‘To give Democrats a strong, viable path to winning the White House, I am calling upon President Biden to release his delegates and empower Vice-President Harris to step forward to become the Democratic nominee for President’.
The increasingly divisive debate on Biden’s political future has evidently thrown the Democratic party into disarray, which is especially disruptive with the party’s National Convention looming a mere month away. This event ideally stands as a unifying moment—the time when their standing president would be endorsed to challenge Trump. However, given the current scenario, the party finds itself at a juncture it hasn’t encountered in years.
As the clock keeps ticking, the Democratic party appears to be running out of options and strategies to resolve this situation and rally behind a viable presidential nominee who can confidently challenge Trump. What makes matters worse is that they must also assure the public of the nominee’s potential to serve another term, adding another layer of complexity. Biden’s defiant letter claiming his intent to remain in the race, despite all these controversies, appears to fall on disinterested ears, further highlighting the division within the party.
Despite the president’s show of resistance, he hasn’t made any strong attempts to stabilize his shaky support base, such as visiting Capitol Hill to reassure his backers—a concerning absence duly noticed by senators and representatives. In lieu of physical visits, the president has organized virtual discussions with various caucuses throughout the past week. Unfortunately for him, it seems most of these engagements have ended on a less-than-ideal note.