US election - Time to go? - Biden under pressure after TV debacle
In just four months before the US Presidential election, calls for Joe Biden to withdraw from the race are growing louder following his disastrous TV debate performance against Donald Trump.
"Mr. Biden is not the man he was four years ago," writes the "New York Times" in a stark opinion piece about the 81-year-old US President. "Leading Democrats are better positioned to present clear, compelling, and energetic alternatives to a second Trump presidency." CNN states: "Mr. Biden, it's time to go."
The "Washington Post" is less brutal but equally clear: "Mr. Biden cannot be forced to do something he doesn't want to do. He shouldn't be," it says. "What he can do is what many Americans are doing this weekend - asking themselves if he is up to the task." The fact that major liberal media outlets are urging the President to step down is noteworthy. Other media are making similar noises in their opinion pieces, with the conservative "Wall Street Journal" writing: "The debate showed that the President is clearly not capable of serving four more years in office."
Where are the Democrats headed?
However, the decision to withdraw Biden is not for US media but for the 81-year-old and his team. Biden gave a defiant performance after the debate and insisted that he was up to the task. However, the coming days could be decisive. Surveys may then show whether Biden's weak debate performance affected voters. For now, the first rank of Democrats remains firmly behind the incumbent - Biden receives support from his predecessors Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. But within the party, rumors are circulating.
Currently, polls indicate that the November election is running neck and neck between Trump and Biden. If Biden were to actually decide to withdraw, a Democratic victory in the presidential election is by no means certain. The party would first have to rally behind an alternative candidate or candidate before the convention in Chicago in August. The presidential candidate will be officially anointed there. Theoretically, it is possible for the party to suddenly change horses and withdraw Biden from the race. But who could replace him?
The potential candidates:
- Kamala Harris
- Bernie Sanders
- Elizabeth Warren
- Michael Bloomberg
- Pete Buttigieg
- Amy Klobuchar
- Andrew Yang
- Tulsi Gabbard
- Tom Steyer
- Cory Booker
These are the ten most likely candidates to replace Biden, should he decide to withdraw from the race. The order is not necessarily indicative of their chances, but rather a reflection of their current standing in the polls and within the party. The situation is fluid, and the race could change significantly in the coming days and weeks. Stay tuned for updates.
Kamala Harris: The 59-year-old Vice President would have been a natural successor. However, Harris is unpopular in the USA. During her tenure as Vice President, she remained notably low-key - even quieter than Vice Presidents typically are. But unlike other potential alternatives to Biden, she is known on the national stage. It would be an affront to the party to bypass her. If Biden were to actually step down, it would be important for the party to present a united front and not publicly split in the candidate selection process.
Gavin Newsom: The 56-year-old Governor of the liberal US state of California has been eyeing the White House for some time. During the campaign, he engaged in a TV debate with the Republican Ron DeSantis when he was still in the running for the Republican Party's presidential candidacy. The eloquent and well-connected Newsom, who was once Mayor of San Francisco, has since openly supported Biden. His name is among the first mentioned when the question of an alternative for the 81-year-old arises - alongside Harris.
Gretchen Whitmer: The 52-year-old is the Governor of the state of Michigan. She has tried to make a name for herself on the national stage in recent years. The lawyer can boast of a long career in politics and is part of the Democratic Party leadership. During the 2020 presidential election, she was in Biden's inner circle as a potential vice presidential candidate. Due to her relatively strict coronavirus politics, she has become a bogeyman for many Republicans. Headlines were made when several men were arrested who had planned her kidnapping.
Michelle Obama: Calls for Michelle Obama, the former First Lady, to enter the race for the White House, continue to resurface. The popular wife of former President Barack Obama has repeatedly denied this and insists she has no interest. However, for many in the Democratic Party, she is a beacon of hope who could steer the ship. After the disastrous debate, the Obamas' phone may have rung again. It is considered highly unlikely that she would suddenly enter the race.
Other names being mentioned include those of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Maryland Governor Wes Moore. These Democrats are less known nationally than Whitmer or Newsom. And at least for now, there is no indication that Biden is stepping down. It is most likely that his wife Jill could convince him to stay in the race. She made it clear after the debate: "There's no one I'd rather see in the Oval Office than my husband."
- Despite growing calls from the US media, including the New York Times and CNN, for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the US election campaign due to his poor debate performance against Donald Trump, Biden remains defiant and insists he is up to the task.
- The Wall Street Journal joined the chorus of criticism, stating that Biden's debate showing demonstrated he is not capable of serving four more years in office.
- If Biden were to withdraw, the Democrats would have to rally behind an alternative candidate before the August convention in Chicago to officially select a presidential candidate, with Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Michael Bloomberg among the top contenders.
- Kamala Harris, the 59-year-old Vice President, would be a natural successor but is currently unpopular in the USA; she remained low-key during her tenure as Vice President but is known on the national stage.
- Gavin Newsom, the 56-year-old Governor of California, has long been eying the White House; he engaged in a debate with the Republican Ron DeSantis during the campaign and has since openly supported Biden.
- Gretchen Whitmer, the 52-year-old Governor of Michigan, has tried to make a name for herself on the national stage and was in Biden's inner circle as a potential vice presidential candidate.
- Michelle Obama, the former First Lady, continues to be mentioned as a potential candidate, despite her repeatedly denying interest; she is seen as a beacon of hope for many in the Democratic Party.
- Other names being mentioned as potential replacements for Biden include those of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who are less known nationally than Whitmer or Newsom.
- Even with the calls for Biden to step down, polls show that the November election is running neck and neck between Trump and Biden, with Biden's predecessors Barack Obama and Bill Clinton supporting him.
- The coming days will be crucial in determining whether Biden's weak debate performance affected voters; if he were to withdraw, it would not guarantee a Democratic victory in the presidential election.
- The #USElection2024 presidential election is already gaining attention, with numerous candidates vying for the position, and the dynamics of the race could change significantly in the coming days and weeks.
