The first presidential election debate between US President Joe Biden and former US President Donald Trump took place on June 27, 2024, at CNN Atlanta studios. Following the debate, there were concerns among officials and legislators about Biden’s performance and potential vulnerabilities, particularly with regard to his age and leadership abilities. This led to speculation about potential replacements for Biden in case of emergency, such as Jamaal Bowman, Gretchen Whitmer or Gavin Newsom.
Despite these internal discussions and concerns, publicly there is unwavering support for Biden leading up to the Democratic Party convention starting on August 19. If Biden were to withdraw from the race, the party would enter emergency mode with the possibility of selecting a new candidate through a process involving the National Committee of the Democratic Party and superdelegates. However, there is also a possibility that a majority of delegates could withdraw their support for Biden leading to a chaotic scenario where new candidates would be considered potentially involving superdelegates.
With time running out before the convention starts, it is crucial for the Democratic Party to resolve any uncertainties and solidify their nominee. The absence of a presidential candidate at this stage could have significant implications for the nomination process. The Democrats are facing a tight deadline with the possibility of alterations to their nomination calendar and a rush to confirm Biden as their candidate before planned.
The situation is complex and will require careful navigation in the coming weeks leading up to the convention.