Rome, 29 June 2024 – Joe Biden non convince the Democratic electorate, shocked by the TV duel against Trump where the incumbent president has struggled to explain the points of his second term, and has failed to respond to Trump’s provocations, even appearing to have difficulty finishing his sentences. Thus calls for him to withdraw from the race for the White House are multiplying, not least that from the New York Times editorial entitled: “To serve his country, President Biden should leave the race.”
But who can take Biden’s place in the running?
Kamala Harris
In the lead would be his vice president, Kamala Harrisvery close to the president and with his policies, but much less popular. A new Politico-Morning Consult poll shows that Harris could not do better than her boss, and she would also have to convince the Dem delegates to vote for her because the votes collected by Biden would not automatically come to her. This would open a race to become his vice president, increasing tensions in the party. However, Harris is liked by 74% of voters, and she could count on the votes of the black and Latino communities.
Gavin Newsom
In second place we find Gavin Newsomgovernor of California. His name is circulating persistently among the party ranks, but he himself is a Biden loyalist, so much so that he stated: “I will never turn my back on him. He is our candidate for the White House”, in an interview with Repubblica. According to Newsom, the president’s age is not a problem, “what counts are the results, ideas and principles. Biden wakes up every day thinking about what he can do for all Americans, Trump wakes up thinking only of himself”.
Gretchen Whitmer
In third place is the name of Gretchen Whitmergovernor of Michigan and vice president of Biden’s election campaign. A great ally of Biden, she has distinguished herself for her antipathy towards Trump and for the clash with the far right of the state during the pandemic. Furthermore, Biden himself does not seem to have made an impression on the hearts of Michigan voters and she could convince the undecided. Her vice president could be Josh Shapirogovernor of Pennsylvania.
JB Pritzker
Not to forget the governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker, the heiress of the family that founded the Hyatt Hotel Corporation and one of the harshest with Trump: “Remember that the former president is not just a friend of Vladimir Putin. He wants to be Putin”, he attacked recently. Then the Minister of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, already a candidate in 2020. Or the governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiroif he didn’t run with Whitmer. Shapiro won Pennsylvania, key state for the race for the White Housein 2022, beating the candidate supported by Trump. Not much loved by environmentalists and the liberal wing of the party, he can count on wide popularity and of a young age: 51 years old.
The Michelle Obama Dream
In reality, the hidden dream of many Dems would be the former first lady Michelle Obamastill very popular, but who has always categorically denied any intention of engaging in politics. Furthermore, in 2020 she had already shown herself reluctant to campaign for Biden, but did so due to pressure from the Democrats. This year even less so, given that her relations with the Biden family have deteriorated after her friend’s departure Kathleen Buhleex-wife of Hunter Biden.
