In the wake of US special counsel Robert Hur’s report, which didn’t recommend charging President Joe Biden with any crimes but portrayed him as elderly and forgetful, speculation has arisen about the Democratic Party’s alternatives if they opt to replace their endorsed candidate.
Limited Backup Plans
With less than a year until the election, the Democratic Party lacks a clear backup plan in case they decide to part ways with Biden. Selecting a replacement candidate would pose significant challenges, including deciding among current figures like Vice President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, or exploring other potential candidates. Moreover, determining who within the party would make such a decision and managing the transition of Biden campaign funds adds to the complexity.
Time Constraints
The Democratic Party faces time constraints as the primary election season has already commenced nationwide. Adding new candidates to ballots is restricted by local election laws, rendering it too late for many states to include fresh names. For instance, Michigan’s Democratic primary is scheduled for February 27, with a deadline for new candidate additions in early December 2023, making it impractical to introduce replacements at this stage.
Challenges of Super Tuesday
Super Tuesday, involving primaries in 15 states and a significant delegate count, falls on March 5. States like California, with nearly 500 delegates, had a cutoff in late December 2023 for new candidate additions. If the party aims to field a different nominee, rapid mobilization for write-in campaigns might be the only feasible option. However, failure to execute this before Super Tuesday diminishes the chances of formal replacement candidates appearing on Democratic tickets in November.
Last Resort Options
While the deadline for independent candidates to appear on general election ballots in November is more flexible, it presents a last resort for the Democratic Party. As a fallback, promoting a candidate unaffiliated with the party on the ballot remains a possibility if efforts to replace Biden internally prove futile.
Coalescing Around Biden
Considering these challenges, rallying behind Biden appears to be the Democratic Party’s most viable strategy to consolidate support and navigate through the complexities of the upcoming election.
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