Kamala Harris Emerges as Leading Choice to Succeed Biden Amid Debate Fallout

Kamala Harris Emerges as Leading Choice for Democrats After Biden’s Debate Performance

Kamala Harris, the Indian American Vice President, is emerging as a leading choice for Democrats to succeed President Joe Biden, following his poor performance in the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle last week. A new poll indicates that she is within striking distance of former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, in a head-to-head matchup.

Despite Harris’s loyalty to Biden, stating he will be the party nominee and will defeat Trump again, many Democrats are rallying behind her. Former Congressman Tim Ryan, who endorsed Biden in 2020, expressed his support for Harris in a signed piece in Newsweek, stating, “The Democratic Nominee in 2024 should be Kamala Harris.”

Ryan described Biden’s debate performance as “heartbreaking” and emphasized the need for a new path forward. The debate has sparked a fierce internal discussion within the Democratic Party about Biden’s candidacy, with some arguing that he should make way for a younger, more capable leader.

Former President Barack Obama, a staunch supporter of Biden, has privately expressed concerns about Biden’s chances after the debate, according to The Washington Post. Other potential Democratic candidates include California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore.

However, any change in candidacy depends on Biden himself stepping aside, as he currently holds most of the party delegates who are bound to him by party rules. So far, Biden and his campaign appear determined to weather the storm.

If Biden steps aside, Harris would be a serious contender for the nomination. She has already undergone extensive vetting as Biden’s running mate in 2020, and as Vice President, she can claim credit for the administration’s achievements. In a new CNN poll, Harris trails Trump by only 2 percentage points (45% to 47%), within the statistical margin of error, and performs better against Trump than Biden, who trails 43% to 49%.

If nominated, Harris would become the first Indian American to be a major party’s presidential nominee. Although several Indian Americans have run for the nomination in both parties, none have made it past the primaries. Harris herself was a candidate in 2020.

Among Republicans, Nikki Haley, the former UN Ambassador, was a contender for the 2024 nomination, but ended her race earlier this year. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal ran for the Republican nomination in 2016 but did not survive the primaries.

As the Democratic Party debates its future, Harris stands out as a promising candidate with the potential to make history.