Vice President Kamala Harris is the best alternative to replace US President Joe Biden if he decides not to continue his re-election campaign, seven senior sources in the Biden campaign, the White House and the Democratic National Committee with knowledge of current discussions on the topic said. "Reuters".
Biden's muddled, sometimes disjointed and widely criticized performance in the first debate against Republican rival Donald Trump last week sparked a wave of panic in the Democratic Party amid concerns that he may not be fit enough to win a second term and sparked calls for top aides to resign.
Several influential Democrats have offered Biden alternatives besides Harris, including popular cabinet members and Democratic governors such as Gavin Newsom of California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. But trying to avoid a nomination for Harris is self-delusion and would be nearly impossible, sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
If nominated, Harris, 59, would take over funds raised by Biden's campaign and inherit the campaign's infrastructure, the sources said. She also has the highest approval among all the alternatives and the most votes among Democrats who could seriously be considered a candidate, the sources said.
In a "Reuters"/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday, Harris trailed Trump by one percentage point at 42% to 43%, a margin of error of 3. 5 percentage points in the poll, showing statistically just as strong as Biden's.
US Representative Jim Clyburn, the man who was the key to Biden's 2020 victory, told MSNBC that he would support Harris to be the Democratic nominee party if Biden withdraws.
"It's almost impossible to win the nomination over the vice president," said Michael Trujillo, a California Democratic strategist who worked for Hillary Clinton's 2008 and 2016 campaigns.
White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that Biden simply had a "bad night" debate and will continue to make his case for re-election to the American people.
Harris aides have dismissed any talk of a Democratic nominee that does not include both Biden and Harris. "Vice President Harris looks forward to serving a second term with President Joe Biden," says in a statement from her office.
The Biden campaign amassed 3,894 delegates after the state primaries, leaving just a few dozen "uncommitted" delegates outstanding. They are expected to formally nominate Biden later this month in a virtual meeting, ahead of the Democratic nominating convention in August.
"All the delegates are not just Joe Biden delegates, they are Kamala Harris delegates, Trujillo said, adding that "she will have a significant delegation and support in all 50 states in the first day", he said.
Donna Brazile, former interim chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, who has a key role on the committee for this year's Democratic National Convention in August, said that the person who can to step in immediately if Biden decides not to run is Harris.