The election is over, but the Democrats are still grappling with the decision to remove Joe Biden as a potential presidential candidate. With Kamala Harris as the presumed heir, there was heated debate within the party. Democrats disagreed on whether Kamala Harris or Joe Biden should step down. Instead of an automatic endorsement for Harris, some members preferred an open nomination process. So now they know how their decision turned out.
The Democratic Party is divided on Biden’s future
The Democratic Party is at a crossroads as debate over President Joe Biden’s role in Kamala Harris’ defeat heats up. Party members are questioning their decision to support Kamala Harris after Joe Biden resigned.
The party’s division became clear when key figures expressed opposing views on the way forward. Senator Elizabeth Warren voiced her support for Harris, describing her as “ready to step up.” Other party leaders, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have advocated for an open nomination process instead of automatically endorsing Harris.
Give me a break. The plan all along was for the DNC to run Biden and replace him with Harris AFTER the primaries by selection, not election.
They thought the American people were stupid and didn’t realize WTH was happening.
As VP for the last 3.10 years, Kamala Harris should have… https://t.co/QGYNwPaCCo— Case1030🇺🇸✝️☘️ (@CASE103060) November 6, 2024
Concerns About Biden’s Performance
Biden’s recent debate performance had raised doubts within the party about his ability to defeat former President Donald Trump. The debate was marked by repeated stumbles, awkward pauses, and a quiet speaking style, which raised concerns among Democrats.
“I’m not the only one whose heart is breaking right now. There’s a lot of people who watched this tonight and felt terribly for Joe Biden,” former Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill said on MSNBC. “I don’t know if things can be done to fix this.”
Some urged Biden to step aside for a different candidate, addressing concerns about his continued participation in the race. Representative Mark Tucano and others had urged the president to let Harris be the party’s nominee.
They ran Kamala as an incumbent without letting her be the incumbent. This was a failed strategy from the get go, we discussed this months ago on @TheDuranReal.
This strategy also gave Biden the space to insert himself in the campaign and do severe damage. The entire "swap Biden…— Alex Christoforou (@AXChristoforou) November 6, 2024
Harris’ Potential Ascendancy
Prior to the election, there was a lot of speculation about Biden’s departure and whether he had a future in the party. So the focus shifted to Vice President Kamala Harris’ readiness to lead the party. However, party members were divided on whether Biden should be replaced and, if so, by whom.
Harris has remained focused on the current administration’s goals, stating, “We will win this election.” However, the possibility of her becoming the party’s nominee has fueled speculation about her ability to defeat Trump.
Looking ahead
As the Democratic Party navigates this difficult period, the outcome of upcoming elections will undoubtedly play a significant role in determining the party’s leadership. Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki predicts that discussions about Biden’s future will heat up depending on the election results, especially if Harris does not win.
“It will begin,” she said. “It will begin depending on the outcome. And obviously, there hasn’t been a race called yet. If this is not a Harris win, that will certainly be part of the discussion. She’s run a campaign over the course of 107 days. That is not something we’ve seen in history, and there’ll be lots of questions about exactly that, the timing and the impact of that.”
The August convention forced the Democratic Party to confront a critical fork in the road. The debate over Biden’s candidacy and Harris’s leadership continued to create tension within the Democratic Party. So the discussion shifted to what would be the unifying strategy for moving forward, regardless of the outcome of the election.
Sources:
- Democrats pushing for Biden to exit the race are split over who would lead the ticket next
- NBC Panel: So, Were Dems Right to Push Biden Aside?
