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Democrats are so panicked over President Joe Biden’s faltering debate performance some are actively discussing what was once unspeakable: replacing him on the ticket.
Three strategists close to three potential Democratic presidential candidates said they had been bombarded with text messages throughout the debate. One adviser said they received pleas for their candidate to step forward as an alternative to Biden.
Another adviser said they had “taken no less than half a dozen key donors texting ‘disaster’ and [the] party needs to do something,” but acknowledged that “not much is possible unless” Biden steps aside.
They were among more than a dozen Democrats who spoke with POLITICO, most of whom were granted anonymity to speak freely.
One major Democratic donor and Biden supporter said it was time for the president to end his campaign. This person described Biden’s night as “the worst performance in history” and said Biden was so “bad that no one will pay attention to Trump’s lies.”
“Biden needs to drop out. No question about it,” the donor said in a text message, proposing an alternate ticket led by the governors of Maryland and Michigan.
At least two prominent potential 2028 contenders — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom — said they stood by Biden even after his performance.
Newsom, when pressed on MSNBC if Biden should step down, said that talk is “unhelpful” and “unnecessary.”
“You don’t turn your back because of one performance,” Newsom said. “What kind of party does that?”
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/27/biden-democrats-replacement-00165672
Three strategists close to three potential Democratic presidential candidates said they had been bombarded with text messages throughout the debate. One adviser said they received pleas for their candidate to step forward as an alternative to Biden.
Another adviser said they had “taken no less than half a dozen key donors texting ‘disaster’ and [the] party needs to do something,” but acknowledged that “not much is possible unless” Biden steps aside.
They were among more than a dozen Democrats who spoke with POLITICO, most of whom were granted anonymity to speak freely.
One major Democratic donor and Biden supporter said it was time for the president to end his campaign. This person described Biden’s night as “the worst performance in history” and said Biden was so “bad that no one will pay attention to Trump’s lies.”
“Biden needs to drop out. No question about it,” the donor said in a text message, proposing an alternate ticket led by the governors of Maryland and Michigan.
At least two prominent potential 2028 contenders — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom — said they stood by Biden even after his performance.
Newsom, when pressed on MSNBC if Biden should step down, said that talk is “unhelpful” and “unnecessary.”
“You don’t turn your back because of one performance,” Newsom said. “What kind of party does that?”
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/27/biden-democrats-replacement-00165672
