By James Bickerton. Media: Newsweek
Thursday night’s election debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump sparked “panic” within the Democratic Party according to CNN chief national correspondent John King, after the 81-year-old president repeatedly appeared to lose his train of thought, triggering widespread mockery on social media.
Biden had been under pressure to allay concerns about his cognitive ability, with a New York Times poll published in March finding 61 percent of his 2020 voters now think he is “just too old” for another term.
This has also detracted attention from Trump’s legal troubles, with the presumptive Republican presidential candidate being convicted of 34 felony charges in May related to claims he falsified business records to conceal the payment of hush money to a former pornographic actress. Trump dismissed the trial as “rigged” and is widely expected to appeal.
Following Thursday’s debate Johanna Maska, a Democratic consultant and former Barack Obama aide, posted a video on X urging her party to change its 2024 presidential candidate.
She said: “We cannot do this, Democrats. Joe Biden can’t put a sentence together. We have to change our candidate, and we have so many good candidates who are sitting on the sidelines.”
Newsweek has compiled a list of nine Democrats who could become the party’s 2024 presidential nominee if Biden were to pull out, drawn from those who have the best odds of achieving this according to betting amalgamation website Odds Checker. Biden’s 2024 presidential campaign has been contacted for comment by email.
Governor Gavin Newsom
The 56-yearold California statesman is the most credible Democratic candidate after Biden, according to odds from U.K. based bookie Betfair which gave him an 11/4 (26.7 percent) chance of being his party’s standard-bearer in November.
Newsom has served as the Golden State’s governor since January 2019, having previously been elected as California’s Lieutenant Governor and Mayor of San Francisco.
However, after the debate Newsom insisted he wouldn’t be the Democratic candidate in November commenting: “That’s a non sequitur.” He also praised Biden saying he was “very proud of the president.”
Vice president Kamala Harris
As VP, Harris would be one of the most obvious candidates to be the Democrats 2024 presidential candidate, should Biden step aside.
However Harris has been dogged by poor ratings, with a net disapproval of 10.1 on June 24, according to an analysis of recent surveys by polling website FiveThirtyEight.
Before becoming VP, 59-year-old Harris served as a Senator for California and was previously a district attorney.
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Michelle Obama
The former first lady and wife of ex-president Barack Obama has been seen as a long shot for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination, despite never stating she wants to run.
According to Betfair there is a 16/1 (5.9 percent) chance that 60-year-old Michelle Obama will be the Democrats’ next presidential contender.
In a statement to NBC News in March Michelle Obama’s office said she would be supporting Biden in November 2024.
They said: “As former first lady, Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president.
“Mrs. Obama supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ reelection campaign.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
The Michigan Governor is listed fourth on the Odds Checker list of potential 2024 Democratic presidential candidates, if Biden steps down.
Whitmer’s political career began in the Michigan House of Representatives, where she served from 2001 to 2006, followed by a tenure in the Michigan Senate from 2006 to 2015. Whitmer, 52, has served as Governor of Michigan since 2019.
Hillary Rodham Clinton
The former secretary of state and first lady to President Bill Clinton, also makes the list, despite losing the 2016 presidential election to Trump due to the Electoral College system, though she won more votes overall.
Ahead of Thursday’s debate, 76-year-old Clinton said it would be a “waste of time” for Biden to attempt to refute Trump during the discussion as “it’s nearly impossible to identify what his arguments even are.”
Governor J.B. Pritzker
J.B. Pritzker has served as the 49th governor of Illinois since January 2019, and descends from the influential Pritzker family, known for founding the Hyatt hotel chain. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science from Duke University and his Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law.
Before entering politics, 59-year-old Pritzker cofounded the Pritzker Group, a private investment firm, and was heavily involved in various philanthropic endeavors, particularly in education and early childhood development.
Governor Josh Shapiro
The Pennsylvania Governor has served in post since January 2023 after being elected during the November 2022 midterm elections.
Shapiro, 51, began his political career in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving from 2005 to 2012. He then became the chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, a role he held from 2012 to 2016. In 2017, Shapiro was elected as Pennsylvania’s Attorney General and held the post until his election as governor.
Sen. Raphael Warnock
Raphael Warnock has served as junior Senator from Georgia since January 2021, when he became the first African American to represent his state in the upper chamber of Congress.
Before his political career, 54-year-old Warnock gained prominence as the senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the spiritual home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Rep. Dean Phillips
Dean Phillips has served as the U.S. representative from Minnesota’s 3rd congressional district since 2019.
Before entering politics, 55-year-old Phillips had a successful career in business. He was the president and CEO of his family’s liquor company, Phillips Distilling Company, and later served as the co-owner and CEO of Talenti Gelato which was sold in 2014.