How is it going after Biden's withdrawal?
Pressure on US President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race has grown significantly in the past few days. Doubts about his suitability as a candidate due to his age and mental fitness were immense, even among his closest associates. Now, Biden announces his withdrawal. Important questions and answers regarding his departure and its consequences:
What's happening now?
Biden had already won the internal primaries of his party and secured the necessary delegate votes for the nominating convention taking place from August 19-22 in Chicago, Illinois. Originally, the 81-year-old was supposed to be officially nominated as the presidential candidate there. After his withdrawal from the race, the delegates in Chicago are no longer bound by the results of their state primaries but free in their decision.
The Democrats might not be interested in starting an open competition among several replacement candidates and turning the convention into a voting drama. More likely, they will try to rally the party behind a new frontrunner beforehand.
Who could it be?
Biden's Vice President, Kamala Harris. Immediately after the announcement of his withdrawal, Biden recommended Harris as a replacement candidate for the November election. The 81-year-old declared it his best decision in the 2020 election year to choose Harris as his running mate. He therefore supports her as a Democratic candidate in the upcoming election. Harris is considered Biden's natural successor. She is the first woman and the first Black person to have taken the oath of office as US Vice President. Her father immigrated to the US to study economics. Her mother, a cancer researcher and civil rights activist, came from India.
The Democrats would need good reasons to overlook Harris. Moreover, she has already gone through all the checks for the White House and could potentially access Biden's campaign apparatus and presumably also his campaign funds, as she is part of his re-election campaign. Now she needs to find a running mate for herself.
The 59-year-old was long considered dull in her position and had to fight against poor poll numbers. In recent days, Biden has publicly endorsed Harris quite openly.
Are there any alternatives to Harris?
Besides Harris, the names of Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer have been mentioned most frequently. Newsom is the Governor of the powerful state of California. He has made a name for himself nationally and has worked intensively on his profile, most recently with much-noticed foreign trips. Whitmer is the Governor of Michigan and has been considered an up-and-coming figure in the party for a long time. Before the 2020 election, Biden had considered Whitmer as his running mate. According to US media, both have made it clear internally that they are not available as potential vice presidents for Harris.
Given the current situation, many speculate about Donald Trump's potential entry into the United States Presidency Election 2024, sensing an opportunity with Biden's departure.
Secondly, should Harris decline the Democratic Party's nomination or face any unforeseen circumstances, Joe Biden's endorsement could significantly impact other potential candidates, potentially shifting the narrative in the 2024 election.
