Pragmatic analysts, pollsters, and individuals aligned with the Democratic party are beginning to support vice-president Kamala Harris as the likely nominee for the White House, despite President Joe Biden’s determination to seek a second term.
A decision on Biden’s candidacy is imminent, with growing pressure for Harris to take his place, despite lingering doubts about her ability to defeat Donald Trump.
Biden is expected to make a decision after a weekend interview and public events that will determine his fitness for the job. The reasons for promoting Harris to replace Biden as the Democratic nominee range from practical to logistical, as she has already been vetted and is part of the Biden-Harris ticket, which has effectively secured the nomination.
Political strategists argue that choosing anyone other than Harris would pose legal, political, and financial challenges, as it would raise questions about the status of the delegates won by Biden and Harris, as well as the significant campaign funds.
Replacing Biden would require a fully operational campaign and new finances within a short timeframe, which is considered nearly impossible.
Harris’ performance as vice-president has failed to impress many, but she does have national name recognition. Other prominent Democrats mentioned as potential nominees, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, are popular in their respective states but lack appeal on a national level.
Party officials do not seriously consider outliers like Michelle Obama as contenders.
Democratic insiders also mention optics, arguing that denying Harris the top nomination in favor of a white male candidate could alienate minorities, whose support is crucial to winning the White House, especially since she is the first Black and Asian-American woman to be elected as vice-president.
Polls indicate that Harris performs better against Trump than any other potential Democratic nominee, although a poll mentioned by Daily Mail showed her losing to Trump by eleven points, with a headline suggesting that it is inevitable for Harris to replace Biden.
Some governors who are being encouraged to run have already stated that they will not enter the race at this late stage, while party leaders are preparing for a potential Harris nomination.
One of these governors is South Carolina lawmaker Jim Clyburn, whose endorsement of Biden was crucial in the 2020 race. He has expressed his support for Kamala Harris if she becomes the nominee.
Critics point out that Harris had a poor performance in the 2020 race, leading to her dropping out of the Presidential contest. Her performance as vice-president has also been lackluster.
Skeptics of Harris warn that while she may attract minority votes, her candidacy could alienate white suburban voters in swing states that Democrats need to secure the White House.
Harris has been cautious in her approach regarding her aspirations for the Oval Office while supporting Biden.
She emphasized the importance of focusing on Biden’s successful 3½ years in office rather than his performance during a 90-minute debate.
During a recent CBS News interview, she avoided directly addressing whether she is prepared to lead the country if Biden is unable to do so, stating that she is honored to be Biden’s running mate.
Harris confidently stated, “Joe Biden is our nominee. We defeated Trump once, and we will do it again. End of story.”
