Key Point from the Author: “Just like Republicans and Trump, Democrats have some decent, if not good, options to choose from other than the man currently driving America over a cliff. Why they don’t choose one of them is beyond me.”
While California Gov. Gavin Newsom is undoubtedly stealing the spotlight within the Democratic party, others are champing to be the party’s next big thing – especially if Joe Biden backs out of 2024 or if we are talking about 2028.
Joe Biden in Decline
With President Joe Biden’s declining health on display for all, including global leaders, many are speculating he will not make it through to the 2024 election.
The president seems to be on vacation more than he is in the Oval Office, even during crucial moments such as the Hawaii fires, and amid high inflation and a rapidly declining position on the world stage.
Of course, all of this is just a result of the sheer number of years Joe Biden has been living on the Earth. According to a new Associated Press poll, nearly 70% of Democrats think President Biden is too old to serve another term.
The survey went into further detail, asking respondents to describe Biden in one word. Answers included “slow” and “confused,” and the much-circulated reply from one Republican – “potato.”
For Democratic hopefuls, this is a clear sign to rev up their engines and edge their way to the starting line.
Who’s Waiting in the Wings?
Many of the names being floated are governors who have all, in one way or another, garnered national attention.
Those include Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who was vetted as a possible Biden running mate in 2020.
Granted, none of these governors have hogged the headlines nearly as much as Newsom or Florida Gov. DeSantis, but they’ve done enough to catch the eye of those desperately looking to replace a flailing president.
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, Moore raised money for Democratic governors on the sidelines of the annual Allen & Co. Sun Valley Conference in July, offered a televised response to the first GOP debate and attended recent fundraisers in New York’s summer enclaves of the Hamptons.
Shapiro will travel to New Hampshire next month for a keynote address to the state Democratic Party’s convention.
Other lesser-known state leaders such as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper are hard at work building a national network, a common strategy for future presidential hopefuls.
Despite a bevy of potential replacements to Biden, none so prominent as Newsom, the president faces minimal opposition.
All contenders are outwardly supporting Biden. However, they continue to not so discreetly pursue a side hustle to boost their national profile, just in case.
“In the absence of having a young, vibrant president, the party needs to put forward new faces, new voices,” said Nina Smith, a Democratic operative who worked for Buttigieg’s presidential campaign. “I think you’re seeing the next generation of political leadership in this country emerging through the Biden re-election campaign and who the surrogates are.”
Harris Is Not an Option
The focus on up-and-coming younger Democrat leaders also signals the party’s reluctance to aggressively push Kamala Harris into the spotlight. Her abysmal approval ratings raise doubts among donors that she can effectively succeed Biden in the White House.
Over the summer, polls from Leger, Monmouth University, and Fox News showed the vice president as having a negative approval rating.
Despite Harris’ recent attempts to bolster her public profile, most still do not have confidence in her to lead the country.
Just like Republicans and Trump, Democrats have some decent, if not good, options to choose from other than the man currently driving America over a cliff. Why they don’t choose one of them is beyond me.
