Will President Biden drop out of the 2024 presidential race, and if so, who will replace him? Those are two of the most pressing questions buzzing around Washington and the entire country, say political analysts, as fears continue to grow over the President’s age and ability.
Biden Replacement Desire
And now, in a new poll, almost half of American voters say they think President Biden will be replaced, and they’d like former first lady Michelle Obama to take his place.
Obama as the Ideal Candidate
A total of 47 percent of people who say they will be voting on November 5 believe Democrats will likely replace Biden, a poll by Rasmussen Reports suggests. Around 20 percent supported Michelle Obama as the replacement.
How Likely Is a Switch?
The aforementioned 47 percent statistic includes 22 percent who say they see Biden being replaced as “very likely.” This compares to 45 percent who don’t think it will happen and 18 percent who said a switch of candidate for the presidential election was “not at all likely.”
Biden’s Age Problem
President Biden is 81 and will be another year older by time the election comes around in November. Earlier this month he was described by Special Counsel Robert Hur as an “elderly man with a poor memory,” following an investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents. And Biden has made a string of blunders that included trips and falls as well as rambling and incoherent remarks at press conferences and in interviews. The majority of Democratic voters think he is too old to run again or be in the White House for another four years, polls show.
Biden’s Reelection Chances
While age concerns about President Biden persist, he remains high in national polling, with around 70 percent support among Democratic voters. And he has just two rivals for the party’s nomination, author Marianne Williamson, who has just restarted her campaign after withdrawing from the race earlier in February, and Congressman Dean Phillips – both of whom are in single digits in national polls.
Other Replacement Picks
With Michelle Obama as their top choice, voters in the Rasmussen Reports survey would also like California Governor Gavin Newsom, Vice President Kamala Harris and former first lady Hillary Clinton to take Biden’s place.
The Possible Candidates
Newsom, 56, has long been touted as a Democratic candidate for the presidency, but he has said he is not running. Harris, 59, is again President Biden’s running mate. And Clinton, 76, has campaigned for the presidency twice, in 2008 and 2016, when she lost to Donald Trump. She says she will not make a third attempt to become the first female President of the United States.
Michelle Obama’s Popularity
Michelle Obama, 60, remains hugely popular among Democrats, as does her husband, former President Barack Obama. The pair spent two terms at the White House, from 2009 to 2017. Since leaving office, they have written books, worked on media projects that include podcasts and a partnership between their production company Michelle Obama and Netflix.
Michelle Obama’s Election Fears
While Michelle Obama has not said if she could join the presidential race, she is closely watching events as the November general election nears, say political analysts. She said in a podcast interview in January that she was “terrified about what could possibly happen” in November “because our leaders matter.”
Repeat of 2020?
She said: “We cannot take this democracy for granted. And sometimes I worry that we do.” That was a likely reference, say political observers, to the potential for unrest in a possible repeat of the 2020 election that then-President Trump lost to Joe Biden but insisted the vote was “rigged” and “stolen.” As he challenged the results in court, ultimately to no avail, Trump called on his supporters to protest the outcome on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021, in a demonstration that turned into an attack on the seat of US democracy in which five people were killed.
Against Donald Trump?
Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will most likely have to run against former President Donald Trump, who at 77 is also facing questions about his ability and advanced age, given a recent series of his own blunders. Polls also show that most Americans think he is too old to run again.
GOP Race
Trump’s only opponent for the GOP nomination is Nikki Haley, after others, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, ended their campaigns following disappointing primary votes. While Haley – Trump’s former ambassador to the UN and an ex-governor of South Carolina – is a relatively youthful 52 and has taken aim at Trump’s age, she is far behind him in national polling and has yet to win a primary.
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