US Election 2024 - Should Biden pass the presidency to Harris? And would that make sense?
Comes after Joe Biden's withdrawal? It took three weeks for the undisputed number one Democratic candidate for the US presidency to become an overripe president with no future. Joe Biden is therefore out of the race for the White House, and not a few of his own supporters are relieved about his withdrawal. The debate about age and fitness weighed heavily on the ongoing campaign. The candidate Biden is indeed a historical figure, but President Biden is still 81 years old, hobbled, and feeble.
Joe Biden should also resign as US President
Just a few hours after Biden announced his withdrawal, Donald Trump spoke out: Biden is "not fit to run for the office of President, and he is certainly not fit to hold the office," said the Republican presidential candidate. His Republican colleague, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, joined him and openly called on the President to resign.
Now, this discussion is also gaining momentum around the world: The complete withdrawal of Biden. He should please just go completely, instead of staying until the official transfer of power on January 20, 2025, in the White House. The idea, which may seem hasty, is likely to quickly gain momentum – not just from the political opposition.
The somewhat serious and conservative "New York Post" even reports that some Democrats wanted to remove Biden from the White House – with the help of a constitutional amendment that allows the declaration of government officials as "unfit for office," enabling them to be removed in this way.
When the power of the office expires
The presidency may not end as chaotically as this, but a quick exit is at least logical in US politics: If the most powerful man in the country is willing to give up power and influence, why should he (or someday she) wait? With the moment of not wanting or being able to continue, the power of the office expires. Wouldn't it then be consistent to immediately strike the sails, instead of half incompetent, half unwilling to sit out the last months?
This scenario is known in the US as a "lame duck." State leaders, whose term ends and who cannot be re-elected, are referred to as lame ducks. Biden has now put himself in this position, and there is still almost three quarters of a year left for him as head of state. Valuable time, during which political Washington now calmly awaits the end of the legislative period. Time that Kamala Harris could use for herself.
Kamala Harris: with a bonus from the office to the election
The plan that some may be hatching goes like this: Joe Biden announces his resignation as US President. In this case, the office and duties would automatically pass to Kamala Harris. Until the election, the 59-year-old would govern the country, which mainly involves managing Biden's well-prepared house. Some projects are still pending, such as Supreme Court reform and permanent support for Ukraine. But Harris also gets the opportunity to profile herself as a leader and score points in the campaign. With this bonus from the office, she presents herself for election on November 5. And wins.
It is just as plausible that Harris is muddying the waters. Organizing majorities in politically divided Washington is a most laborious task for Joe Biden, even for him at his advanced age. For someone like Kamala Harris, who has not stood out as a successful vice presidential candidate, the job could quickly become a mission impossible. Then in November, a bonus would turn into a malus.
The Genie is Out of the Bottle
All of this is still speculation. Kamala Harris is not yet the official Democratic presidential candidate, although she enjoys sufficient intra-party support. But the idea of pushing the lame duck in the White House into retirement has now left the bottle. The past 23 days have shown how quickly such thoughts can bear fruit.
- If Kamala Harris decides to run for the US Presidency in the 2024 election, she could benefit from her experience as the acting President, having assumed the role due to Joe Biden's resignation.
- Joe Biden's potential resignation as US President could open up the presidential candidacy for other Democrats, with Kamala Harris being a strong contender given her recent acting presidency.
- The discussion surrounding Joe Biden's fitness for presidency, sparked by his age and health concerns, could intensify if he does not step down, potentially leading to a constitutional amendment to remove him from office.
