Although the procedure of selecting a new nominee in the event that Joe Biden stepped down is unknown, many Democrats believe that Vice President Kamala Harris would be the front-runner more rapidly than in the past.
Behind the scenes, discussions over the nature of a potential contest to unseat Biden at the top of the ticket have been going on for weeks. However, the lack of clarity around the process has made many Democrats hesitate to publicly oppose the president's nomination, even those who have grave reservations about Joe Biden. This is because they believe that what happens next might be much more disastrous.
"I'm a coconut pill; fuck it. One prominent Democratic operative expressed her desire for this to end, alluding to the viral internet meme that sprang from an old clip of the vice president recounting her mother's remark, "You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?"
Not that people have all of a sudden come together, but fatigue is solidifying into agreement.
Reports circulating indicate that arris would be more beneficial in igniting Democratic excitement and supporting Democrats farther down the ticket. It's becoming more difficult to refute claims that she could organize a campaign more quickly. Dreams of her going on Donald Trump with greater vim and activity are beginning to germinate.
Many are purposefully refraining from discussing hypotheticals as Biden's campaign staff has stated that he intends to return to the campaign trail the following week after recuperating from COVID-19. However, two dozen prominent Democratic lawmakers and operatives told CNN that they couldn't possibly see this going any other way if things were to abruptly alter.
A quick and closed procedure is being advocated by some, in which delegates approve the exchange as part of their pre-convention virtual nomination strategy.
“Because they favor others or don't like how it would seem, some people oppose the notion of a coronation. Though there have been suggestions to have a series of town halls or blitz primaries fast, nobody is sure how it would be implemented with just over a hundred days until the election and much fewer before Democrats are expected to convene in Chicago. Even still, some of Harris's supporters are in favor of the concept, doubting that anyone really would oppose her despite the backroom bluster."
When asked by CNN on Friday whether they were prepared to declare that they support Harris as the nominee, a number of Democratic members of Congress who had called for Biden to step down declined.
If nothing else, those who acknowledged and associated with a number of the other potentially most serious possibilities would probably feel constrained by their own aspirations for the future as well as party allegiance. After the recent month of infighting, there will be a lot of pressure to come together, so anybody who challenges her runs the danger of ruining their reputation with the base in a hypothetical 2028 open primary if she is perceived as weakened by that and loses.
Some Democrats think it might be decided on the convention floor in late August, despite the possibility of early ballot deadlines. However, a number of Democrats forecast that the desire for a solution would only grow if this drags on that long.
According to some politicians and operatives, that is becoming increasingly plausible given the approaching election day and their admiration for the vice president's handling of the Democratic problem in recent weeks. They contend that the vice president has not been discovered plotting, not even in private chats, but rather has demonstrated her ferocity and devotion to Biden at a number of campaign events. This will continue this Saturday at a Provincetown, Massachusetts, fundraiser that she is the main attraction for.
"I really think the vice president needs to have it. She is the obvious heir and is actively running for office. In the event that the president is not selected, it will be crucial that we support her right away, stated a Democratic House member who wished to remain anonymous in order to avoid appearing to undermine the president.
A hand from Biden would matter.
Few people can imagine Biden resigning and without designating his running partner as his successor. If anything else, it would be an egregious insult to her, similar to how much it hurt Biden when Barack Obama chose Hillary Clinton over him before the 2016 election. Additionally, he would be undermining his own decision to choose her as qualified for the position four years prior, which he reaffirmed in his press conference the previous week.
Additionally, it would mean bypassing a Black vice president after Black leaders and voters—such as South Carolina Representative Jim Clyburn, who has stated time and time again that he supports Harris if not Biden—not only helped him win in 2020 but are also among the most ardent supporters of the candidate right now.
That level of support would probably only increase, which would persuade delegates and people alike and make it more difficult to challenge her despite her past of a botched 2020 campaign and a rough start to her vice presidential term.
Speaking about "Biden-Harris" accomplishments, Eleni Kounalakis, the lieutenant governor of California, a Democrat and member of the Democratic convention's rules and bylaws committee, said that, should the president decide to resign, it's critical to keep in mind that he won the Democratic primaries.
"It just has to be concluded that the best way to validate the vote of the primary voters is to support the vice president as our nominee," she said. "When people voted for him as the nominee, they were voting for this ticket." "I think most delegates would honor President Biden's wishes as the person who was chosen through the primary process and as our president, even with a public chaotic media swirl." "There's so much respect for President Biden."
That kind of thinking is also resonant down the ballot.
"I believe that Democratic front-runners are the ones that understand the value of stability the best. They are the ones who face the repercussions when there is turmoil, a Democratic front-runner's adviser told CNN. "Visitors are similar to the stock sector."
Fearing that an open process at the convention would be a disaster, prolonging the party's drama and destroying support from the influential Congressional Black Caucus—a force for galvanizing grassroots support and igniting excitement in November—Democratic politicians and senior aides across the country are terrified of this.
Some Democratic members in swing districts who are running for reelection also don't see much benefit in the party going on a weeks-long campaign trail to try out a new candidate. Of course, that's assuming that anyone would even want to run against Harris and jeopardize their own political prospects should they lose now.
"The struggle within us is killing us. One Democratic member discussed the challenging political environment Democrats find themselves in with CNN under the condition of anonymity. "There is no world in which you can push Kamala to the side," the member said.
Limitations remain unforgettable.
The opinions of those who have long held Harris in low regard have not abruptly changed. She hasn't suddenly become oblivious to her previous flaws or issues. That has been included into the calculations that Biden is doing for himself as he considers his options.
Vicente Gonzalez, a representative from Texas who is facing stiff competition for reelection, told CNN he was shocked at how fast the talk had changed from people thinking a few months ago that Biden might consider replacing Harris because she would be a liability on the ticket.
Gonzalez remarked, "I just don't see how we go from that to the idea that she should be leading the ticket." Although the facts are what they are, I have nothing against her. Not anything was altered, is that correct? From there to here, how did we get? Nothing else in the world but this village, is that right?
Republican operatives tell CNN that they are drooling—not just at watching the old assaults and the tapes of her word-salad responses, but also at repeatedly probing her about Biden's health and the consequences of aging and finding out exactly what information she knew and when. They'll put pressure on Biden to step down in order to stir up more commotion and divert her attention.
They will also doubt not just whether she passed whatever expedited procedure is selected, but also whether it is permissible for someone else to take her place on the vote. The remark made by House Speaker Mike Johnson this week that "there's some preliminary research being done" is making the rounds due to genuine worries about ballot access that may be impacted if Democrats choose to proceed with a brand-new candidate who emerges from a brokered convention.
Additionally, when Biden nominated Harris in 2020, some went beyond just mispronouncing her first name on purpose and threatened legal action about her eligibility to serve as president under the constitution. This was done by using the fallacious claim that neither of Harris's parents were born in the United States.
They are not alone in this.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York stated on an Instagram live chat on Thursday night, "If you think that's going to be an easy transition, I'm here to tell you that a significant portion of the elites, the donor class, and the people I see in these rooms who are advocating against Joe Biden becoming the nominee also have no interest in seeing the vice president do so."
Behind the scenes, several progressives have stated that they believe Biden to be more in line with their goals than they do Harris, which is one of the reasons why so many of them have remained loyal to him.
"She's currently trying out for the presidency."
Others feel that the political discourse is not keeping up with how this is being received by those outside of Washington and others who are fixated on donor information and internal surveys.
"She's sort of trying out for the presidency right now," said Ashley Etienne, a former director of communications for the former president and a seasoned Hill staffer who is still in contact with many of the current members. She is in a good position to reassure people that she is prepared and to boost trust in Joe Biden. She has to take that a step farther. The campaign must provide her with chances to accomplish that.
It makes sense for Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat from Maine who has asked Biden to resign and stated he doesn't think he could be the president, to consider moving toward Harris.
"I believe a great number of Americans believe that Kamala will serve out her second term if the Biden-Harris ticket wins," Golden stated. Therefore, it might raise the question, "Why not just resolve that issue during this election?"
