04:36 (IST), Jul 22
US PResidential Election 2024 Live: Biden exit offers opportunities, pitfalls for Democrats
Joe Biden’s abrupt exit from the 2024 presidential race presents Democrats with a pivotal opportunity for a late-stage campaign reset, though it ushers in a period of uncertainty that could determine their success against Donald Trump.
Grassroots Democrats hope this shake-up will lead to a more competitive and strategic selection process than the earlier nomination race, which saw minimal serious challengers to the 81-year-old incumbent despite growing concerns about his age.
Entrepreneur Andrew Yang, who previously challenged Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2020, emphasized the need for strong leadership from the party in this transitional phase. “Remarkable leadership shown by Joe Biden. Now it falls to the Democrats to show equal leadership by having an open process to determine the best candidate(s) to take on Trump-Vance in November,” Yang wrote on X. “The goal should be simple — to win.”
With Biden’s endorsement, Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, enters the race as the frontrunner to succeed him. Her immediate consolidation of support could streamline the party’s efforts to focus on Trump. However, failure to solidify her position could lead to a chaotic and potentially damaging contest at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which is just four weeks away.
Jaime Harrison, the party’s national chairman, promised a “transparent and orderly process” for Biden’s replacement, a significant shift as he is the first president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 not to seek a second term.
Biden’s campaign struggled following a poor debate performance against Trump, which intensified doubts about his age and mental acuity. Although Trump would be 82 at the end of a second term, a younger Democratic candidate could shift focus to Trump’s own vulnerabilities, such as his often incoherent speeches and interviews.
Potential Democratic alternatives include governors Josh Shapiro, Gretchen Whitmer, and Gavin Newsom, though Whitmer and Newsom have not formally ruled themselves out or in. A Harris-led campaign, possibly paired with a moderate Midwestern running mate, could energize Democratic voters, particularly women, who have historically supported Democrats in higher numbers.
Sara Sadhwani, a politics professor at Pomona College, suggested that Harris needs to reassert her presence. “While she has largely been in the shadows for the last four years, it is time for Kamala the prosecutor to make her comeback,” Sadhwani said.
A recent survey by Public Policy Polling indicated that Harris, with the right running mate, could potentially win critical battleground states like Pennsylvania and Michigan. Political marketing expert Ryan Waite noted that a contested nomination might actually benefit Democrats by shifting media focus away from Trump.
A new nominee could also be perceived as a fresh start, distancing themselves from Biden administration controversies such as high inflation, the border crisis, and the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Harris, however, would inherit the Biden campaign’s financial resources—approximately $94 million as of July—but other candidates might need to balance campaign funding with down-ballot races.
Republicans have hinted at potential legal challenges to any late substitutions, but Marc Elias, the Democrats’ top election lawyer, assured that the eventual nominee will be on all 50 state ballots. “There is no basis for any legal challenge. Period,” Elias stated.