US election 2024 - How the Democrats are working 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: Everyone goes on TV and says all these great things, but behind the scenes, there's total panic," explained political analyst Van Jones on US cable news channel CNN. "People are passing around legal memos, PDFs are flying back and forth on WhatsApp, trying to figure out what options there are. How do we replace Biden? How do 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 are already underway about who the current Vice President Kamala Harris should bring in as her running mate if she challenges Donald Trump for Biden.
Jones praised Biden as a "great candidate," but Democrats must make a responsible decision about what the best way forward is. "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 wanted 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 must take that into consideration."
Exactly that is happening now, explained Jones. There is currently a big discussion about how to replace Biden, not if.
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According to "Axios," the representatives have "found it inevitable" that the Democrats need a new candidate, and have decided on Vice President Harris as Biden's replacement. According to reports, there is a draft letter circulating among the 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, in which the President would immediately make his support, campaign funds, and delegates available to Harris to prevent the party from being split by a nomination fight.
"There's what's publicly said, and what's happening behind closed doors," confirmed US correspondent for Deutschlandfunk Doris Simon on her radio show on Thursday morning. The public is not privy to the discussions in the Democratic Party about what to do if Biden withdraws his candidacy.
"There's a palpable sense in the party of wanting 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 at this difficult step."
How the Democrats can successfully channel this sentiment is evident from the statements of Minnesota Governor and Chair of the Democratic Governors Association Tim Walz. After a crisis meeting with Biden at the White House on Wednesday evening, Walz publicly declared his support for the President: "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 withdraw as a personal sacrifice for the good of the nation and save face: "A path to victory in November is priority number one, and it's priority number one for the President."
- Despite no open revolt, there are secret discussions among Democrats to persuade President Joe Biden to consider stepping down for the 2024 US election, as suggested by CNN's political analyst Van Jones.
- Jones highlighted the panic behind closed doors, with Democrats examining legal memos and discussing potential replacements for Biden, such as Vice President Kamala Harris.
- If Harris decides to challenge Donald Trump for the presidency, she might consider Bloomberg or another prominent figure as her running mate, based on current discussions.
- The White House is reportedly preparing a succession plan, with President Biden making his support, campaign funds, and delegates available to Harris to avoid a split within the Democratic Party.
- Minnesota Governor and Chair of the Democratic Governors Association Tim Walz met with Biden at the White House and expressed his support, hinting at a potential withdrawal as a personal sacrifice for the nation's victory in November.
- Donald Trump, meanwhile, has not announced his candidacy for the 2024 US election, despite widespread speculation and calls from his allies to run again.
