The possibility of replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate has been a topic of discussion in the political world for several months. With just two months left until the Democratic convention in Chicago, there are concerns about whether Biden can continue leading his campaign. If he decides to step aside, there are several potential candidates who could take his place. However, convention rules state that Biden must give his consent to be denied the nomination.
Despite her popularity among some voters, Kamala Harris is not viewed as a strong contender to replace Biden. Trump may use this opportunity to target Harris as his next opponent and claim that if he wins, he will quickly replace “Grandpa Joe” with an “ultra-progressive” successor. This would be detrimental to the democratic process and would not help in defeating Trump.
If Democrats truly believe that Trump poses a threat to American democracy, both Biden and Harris should consider stepping aside. One potential solution could be Gretchen Whitmer, the popular governor of Michigan, paired with Josh Shapiro, governor of Pennsylvania. Whitmer’s national popularity and trailing numbers in Michigan make her a strong candidate for vice president. Roy Cooper, outgoing governor of North Carolina, could also be a viable choice for vice president if Biden steps aside.
Nominating Whitmer may pose challenges such as alienating African-American voters but a Whitmer/Shapiro ticket may outperform a Biden/Harris ticket. After Biden’s latest TV performance, it is likely that his campaign will become a referendum on Trump rather than a vote of confidence in another term for him. A candidate like Whitmer could appeal to undecided voters and those who are not in favor of either him or Trump.
