Politics make for strange bedfellows – and it was reported that Republican presidential candidate Larry Elder on Sunday said that it will be impossible for the Biden campaign to replace Vice President Kamala Harris on the ticket.
Elder, an African-American conservative talk radio host who ran an unsuccessful campaign during California’s recall election in 2021, suggested it would spell doom for the Democratic Party in the 2024 election if Harris were replaced by another running mate.
“If Joe Biden can’t fog up a mirror, the nominee is going to be Kamala Harris,” Elder said Sunday, adding that even with her poor poll numbers, she is essentially a consequence of what Elder says is the Democratic Party’s obsession with identity politics.
“The Black media loves Harris,” Elder told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” fill-in host Jason Chaffetz. Her polls are at least 70% among Blacks and I suspect even higher among Black females. And don’t forget, the first primary for the Democrats is South Carolina, where 60% of the voters are Black and most of those are Black females, and they love Kamala Harris and will very much resent it if she is perceived as having been kicked to the curb for a White person like Mayor Pete or Gavin Newsom… So they are stuck with Kamala Harris.”
Elder also suggested that California Governor Gavin Newsom – who successfully fended off the 2021 recall – isn’t really a viable option, even as there has been talk of such a move since last year. Newsom, who has also vowed not to challenge Biden for the nomination next year, maybe looking towards a White House bid in 2028 – and there is already speculation he could be laying the groundwork in a face-off against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Elder entered the 2024 presidential race in April. He grew up in South Central Los Angeles and attended Brown University and the University of Michigan Law School.
President Kamala Harris?
Just as Elder believes that the Democrats can’t replace Harris, there are others who believe the strategy is to ensure she will become the next president.
“The DNC’s strategy to ensure the Democrat establishment remains in power is to re-elect Joe Biden, no matter how old or capable he is, and then get him to resign or step aside and install Kamala Harris as president,” explained former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. “She will be untested and unelected, and ready to act as the Democrat Establishment’s puppet president. She will then have the advantage and power of incumbency to run in 2028.”
That may not be a sure thing.
Tom Rogers, editor-at-large for Newsweek suggested last week that Biden should replace Harris on the ticket – and that a suitable role be found for her.
“(Biden) should announce her appointment as Attorney General of the U.S., an extremely prestigious position with even more power at which she can excel,” Rogers wrote. “Having been both a district attorney, and attorney general of the most populous state, she is not only unquestionably qualified for the role, but on the many issues related to voting rights and abortion which she has taken the lead on, the AG role would provide a position of ultimate authority from which she could most affect those issues.”
That would be a win for Harris and could satisfy Black voters – at least provided Biden picked a suitable candidate.
Maybe Stacey Abrams is available.
Author Experience and Expertise
A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
From 19FortyFive
AOC Just Proved How Stupid She Is