‘Secret Democrat plot’ to replace Joe Biden ahead of 2024 election: Report
Former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have the power to knock 81-year-old Joe Biden out of the election, a Democratic strategist said.
There is growing speculation within the Democratic Party about the possibility of replacing President Joe Biden as the party’s nominee ahead of the November 5 presidential election. While some party insiders believe the move could work if carefully planned, others recognize its complexities and risks.
According to a Democratic strategist quoted by DailyMail.com, only four influential figures – former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer – have enough power to remove the 81-year-old president from office.
However, Biden, known for his tenacity and the most recognized leader of the Democratic Party, may stick to his seat and continue running even before the election, which could increase discontent in the party.
Making matters even more complicated is Biden’s complicated relationship with Obama. Biden is believed to hold a grudge against Obama, who supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primaries and reportedly discouraged her from running in 2020, reports dailymail.com.
In late May, Obama briefly attended a state dinner hosted at the White House for the Kenyan president and his wife Michelle was not present. According to a Democratic source, Michelle Obama, who has no close personal feelings for Biden, flatly refused to accept the invitation, the report claimed.
The Obamas have deliberately kept a distance from the White House since Biden was elected president in 2020, knowing that their public appearances would remind people of the time they once liked their nominees.
However, Obama was recently present with Biden at a Democratic fundraiser at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. The 81-year-old president, who has faced questions and criticism over his advancing age and decision to run for a second term, appeared frozen on stage.
Biden stood like a statue for about 10 seconds, making eye contact with the crowd, until Obama, who was still smiling and waving, swooped in, grabbed his hand and gracefully led him off the stage.
Meanwhile, in a strategic move, the Democratic Party has opted for online nominations with a virtual roll call to formally choose Biden as its nominee ahead of the DNC convention in Chicago in mid-August, reported DailyMail.com. This virtual framework could also facilitate a more controlled process, if the party decides to nominate a replacement candidate.
If a swap were to take place, the new nominee would likely be introduced and endorsed by high-ranking Democrats at a public event. Notably, Vice President Kamala Harris is reportedly not the preferred replacement, according to sources, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
A successful transfer of power would require Harris’ support, a difficult task given her political ambitions. And one adviser said that according to the US Constitution, Harris would only become president if Biden dies.
After all, any move to replace Biden is very risky. The new candidate will face a lot of pressure, as their political career will hang in the balance if they lose to Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump. The situation is still fluid, and party insiders are considering their options as the 2024 election approaches.
Reacting to the news report, Pelosi’s spokesperson reiterated her support for Biden on Monday. “Speaker Pelosi has full confidence in President Biden,” the spokesperson told DailyMail.com.
Polling guru Nate Silver said Biden dropping out of the election would be a “huge risk.” “But there’s a threshold below which it’s a huge risk to contest the election. Have we reached that threshold yet? I don’t know. But it’s a fair question to ask,” he said.
However, Silver acknowledged that voters were concerned about Biden’s age and that the president’s average approval rating fell to a new low of 37.4 percent.
“This is an extremely understandable concern, as Biden looks/behaves his age, and it would be a huge challenge for him to apply for this position at 86,” Silver said.
On the other hand, former Bill Clinton adviser and polling expert Mark Penn said the first of Biden’s two debates with Trump on June 27 would be Trump’s last chance to convince voters he is fit for office.
“He has deliberately challenged us to an early debate, and I think that will be the point at which the American people will decide whether or not he’s ready for another term,” Penn said.
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