US election 2024 - Democrats work behind the scenes on Biden's withdrawal
For Joe Biden, the air in the race for a second term is thinning. Although there is no open revolt against a second bid from the Democratic Party for the US President, reports suggest that behind closed doors, there is feverish discussion on how to persuade the 81-year-old to exit the race for the White House.
Biden should graciously step down
"I'll be honest: Everybody goes on TV and says all these great things, but behind the scenes, there's total panic," political analyst Van Jones said on US network CNN. "People are passing around legal memos, PDFs are flying back and forth on WhatsApp, trying to figure out what options there are. How can we replace Biden? How can we get him to do it in a way that makes him feel respected?"
The conversations on camera and off camera are completely different, reported the former advisor to US President Barack Obama. In fact, discussions have already begun about who the current Vice President Kamala Harris should choose as her running mate against Donald Trump if she challenges Biden.
Jones praised Biden as a "great candidate," but Democrats must make a responsible decision about the best way forward. "We have someone who loves this country. We have someone who has given everything – I mean everything, down to the last drop – for this country," said the 55-year-old. He understood why people want to defend and protect Biden and give him the space and dignity to make his own decision. "But he might not be able to cross the finish line. And a bold party needs to consider that."
Exactly that is happening now, Jones explained. There is currently a big discussion about how to replace Biden, not if.
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The stern team on site keeps you informed every Saturday in the free newsletter "Inside America" about the most important developments and gives insights into how Americans really look at their country. After entering your email address, you will receive a confirmation email. We handle your data confidentially. Another parliamentarian quoted by Axios said Biden should "step down and help lead the transition of the candidacy" and that "a very large majority of the faction holds this view." A fourth congressman told the news site that nervous voters and interest groups in their districts had "flooded" them this week: "So many people are telling us that he can't win, that he needs to step down."
According to "Axios," the representatives have "realized with inevitability" that the Democrats need a new candidate, and have decided on Vice President Harris as Biden's replacement. According to sources, there is a draft letter circulating among representatives, calling on Biden to resign, and this is "what everyone is talking about." Bloomberg also reports on this letter.
CNN reports that in the Democratic Party, a succession plan is taking shape, whereby the President would immediately make Harris his running mate, providing her with his support, campaign funds, and delegates. This is to prevent the party from being split by a nomination fight.
"There's what's publicly said, and what goes on behind closed doors," confirmed US correspondent for Deutschlandfunk Doris Simon on her radio show on Thursday morning. The public isn't privy to the discussions within the Democrats about what to do if Biden withdraws his candidacy.
"There's a palpable effort in the party to protect a president who has accomplished things in office in the past few years, a president who is really respected by many people, even loved by some, from being harmed in this difficult step."
How the Democrats might successfully execute this effort can be gleaned from the statements of Minnesota Governor and Democratic Governors Association Chair Tim Walz. After a crisis meeting with Biden at the White House on Wednesday evening, Walz publicly declared his support: "The governors have his back, and we're working together to make that very clear."
Then Walz added a sentence that hints at a way Biden could sell a withdrawal as a personal sacrifice for the good of the nation and preserve his reputation: "A path to victory in November is priority number one, and it's priority number one for the president."
- In the midst of this discussion, CNN is reporting about a potential succession plan within the Democratic Party, involving Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden.
- Despite praising Biden as a "great candidate," political analyst Van Jones suggests that Democrats should consider a replacement due to concerns about his ability to win the next US election in 2024.
- A draft letter circulating among representatives is calling on Biden to resign, and this is reportedly the topic of conversation in the Democratic Party, as mentioned by Bloomberg.
- Tim Walz, the Minnesota Governor and Democratic Governors Association Chair, has publicly declared his support for Biden after a crisis meeting at the White House, emphasizing the priority of ensuring a path to victory in the upcoming US election.
- Should Biden decide to withdraw, Walz hinted at a possibility for him to present his departure as a personal sacrifice for the nation, preserving his reputation.
- With talks of replacing Biden, there's speculation about his potential running mate in case Vice President Harris challenges him in the US Presidential election, with much focus on figures like Tim Walz and former President Barack Obama's advisors.
