Kamala, Whitmer, Newson, Gun For Biden
The race to replace Biden kicked off this week, despite major resistance from the incumbent president.
Although Biden has repeatedly insisted that he is still the president and seeking reelection, younger figures in the party are now openly challenging him.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been the most overt in signaling her interest in the presidency. Whitmer recently put out a profanity-laced ad talking about “fight[ing] like hell” and being “damn tired but damn proud of what we did [in this election].”
In a tweet with the ad, Whitmer also said, “Anyone who claims I would say that we can’t win Michigan is full of shit.”
Whitmer is not up for re-election this year. Therefore the placement of an ad that focuses most of its attention on her, rather than President Joe Biden is somewhat odd. Moreover, while Biden-Harris signs and shirts are featured in many shots, one can not help but notice you never physically see or hear either candidate.
Vice President Kamala Harris made a pre-recorded appearance at the BET Awards this week with actress Taraji P. Henson.
In a painfully scripted exchange, Harris tells Henson “yeah girl, you know I am out here in these streets.” While discussing Henson’s concerns about the Supreme Court and other issues, Harris references popular rap lyrics and reassures the actress with “these extremists, as they say, they’re not like us.”
“They not,” Henson concurs.
The segment concludes on a note promoting gay marriage, gun control and abortion.
Again and conspicuously, Biden is absent. Neither his name nor image is invoked, despite the fact the administration usually insists upon calling themselves the “Biden-Harris Administration.”
If you google the word “Newsom,” the top story is in the Los Angeles Times, talking about the California Governor’s legacy. This is a topic that is not discussed when someone is expected to be in office for many more years.
This is somewhat reflective of the greater sensibility in the media and government, right now. The New York Times has created political cover by calling on Biden to bow out of the race. This cover has been bolstered by numerous congressional democrats including Texas Democrat congressman Lloyd Doggett calling on Biden to retire.
A leaked phone call between numerous congressmen and Democrat House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, where several leaders have expressed their support for Biden stepping aside, has continued to push the “Bi-Done” message that flew over a Biden event in New York.
Meanwhile, Newsom has been aggressively campaigning for Biden, often without Biden’s presence. The California governor has also launched a new weekly political podcast with Marshawn Lynch named “Politic-Kin.”
While each figure’s actions can be plausibly denied as just supporting their party’s likely nominee, in tandem they seem to signal a burgeoning succession war.
The donors have made it clear they want to give Biden the heave-ho, either now or at the convention. Leaks from donors about efforts to push out Biden are now a daily occurrence.
“What I am hearing regarding Joe Biden. Ron Klain [former Biden Chief of Staff] and Barack Obama are having a sit down with the President today. Jill Biden is insistent that Joe runs. Kamala is furious that she is not being considered as a replacement (Whitmer and Newsom are). Interestingly my neighbor in East Hampton is hosting the Bidens tomorrow. It will be an important tell if the fundraiser is canceled,” Dougie Kass, a longtime Democrat donor, posted.
While that fundraiser did end up occurring, there are reports that donors in the Hamptons are divided on sticking with Biden, and mega-donors in California are canceling fundraisers.
Every day new donors join calls for Biden to release his delegates. "If God Almighty is the only one who can convince The President to gracefully step aside, we all need to go to our churches, temples and mosques and get to praying," Damon Lindelof, a major donor and Hollywood producer, said to ABC. He has threatened to withhold hundreds of thousands in donations unless Biden steps down.
“Biden is unfortunately in denial about his mental state. He needs to step aside to let a vigorous Democratic leader beat Trump," Reed Hastings, a Netflix co-founder said in a statement to the outlet.
In a leaked video, former President Donald Trump was recorded saying that he thought Biden will shortly withdraw from the race. “He is quitting,” Trump said.
He also said Harris would replace Biden as nominee, “I think she is going to be better— [but] she’s so bad.”
As polls continue to slide against the incumbent president, the case to replace Biden and the prospects of these early prospective candidates rise.
Trump was leading in all 7 swing states (Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada) before the debates. This trend has only continued.
Trump and Biden are now tied in Virginia polls.
A leaked internal poll conducted by the DNC after the disastrous first presidential debate revealed that Biden could be defeated in states once thought to be safe–– these include states he won by double digits in 2020. These states were Colorado, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Nebraska’s Second Congressional district.
The poll also showed that 40% of Democrats thought Biden should drop out, along with 55% of swing voters.
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