Photo: David Becker Associated Press The Democrats have just been placed in uncharted territory to quickly replace the candidacy of President Joe Biden with that of his vice-president, whom he supports.
Published yesterday at 8:30 p.m.
By leaving the race for the presidency, Joe Biden on Sunday afternoon gave his support to his vice-president, Kamala Harris, in view of the Democratic National Convention which must choose his replacement next August. Or his replacement.
This change of candidate, this late in the electoral season, is rare in the country's recent political history. And it now places Democrats in uncertain territory where, for the moment, the questions outnumber the answers.
Joe Biden won the Democratic primaries and caucuses with massive support of 3,896 delegates out of the 4,700 who will converge on Chicago on August 19 for what was to be the coronation of the president. The announcement of his abandonment complicates the situation. Biden cannot transmit the votes collected to someone else, so it is up to Kamala Harris to seek support from the 4,000 delegates and 700 “super-delegates”, made up of party leaders at the local level. , from certain elected officials as well as former presidents and vice-presidents.
Joe Biden's support gives Kamala Harris a political advantage to do so. But it is not impossible that other candidates will come forward in the coming days.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000Already in the White House and on the road for Joe Biden's campaign since several weeks, the vice-president is certainly the best placed to take over. But other names have been circulating in the corridors of power since Joe Biden's catastrophic debate at the end of June. Among them: that of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
To enter the race, however, they must collect signatures of 3,000 delegates, a complicated project whereas within the Democrats, the choice of Kamala Harris seems to be an obvious strategic decision to bring the campaign out of its torpor and rally a diverse and younger electorate.
“It would energize the African-American electorate, people of color and Asians in our coalition, while bringing the discouraged youth of our country back into the Democratic fold,” commented recently Tim Ryan, former Democratic representative from Ohio to Congress.
According to him, Democratic and Republican women from the suburbs, courted by both parties, could also be comfortable with this first candidacy of an Afro woman -American, and first woman of Asian ancestry, to occupy the highest office in the country.
“There is no alternative to Kamala Harris,” Adrianne Shropshire, executive director of the BlackPAC group, which focuses on mobilizing the African-American vote, said a few days ago. If the Democratic Party thinks this candidacy could be a problem and decides to pass on it, then it will not recover. »
With just over three months to go before the vote, the time frame is short to restore some pep to the Democratic campaign, but also to ensure that the Democratic Party advances in unity towards the polls on November 5. Against Donald Trump.
However, the challenge seems on track to be met. On Sunday, the vice-president received the support of several party leaders, such as Josh Shapiro, a rising figure and governor of Pennsylvania. His name was mentioned as a potential replacement for Joe Biden. He could now enter Kamala Harris' list of possible running mates and become a vice-presidential candidate in a new, rejuvenated Democratic ticket. “I will do everything I can to help elect Kamala Harris as the 47th President of the United States,” he said in a public statement. “The best path forward for the Democratic Party is to quickly unite behind the vice president and refocus on winning the presidency. »
On Sunday afternoon, the 77 Democratic National Committee delegates from Tennessee were also the first to vote unanimously in favor of Kamala Harris' candidacy for the presidency, just hours after the announcement of Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race.
The American Federation of Teachers also announced that it had decided to endorse Kamala Harris on Sunday, giving Harris her first major union endorsement in this campaign. Unions are at the heart of the political history of the Democrats and tend, in several regions, to now turn towards the Republican camp.
This report was financed with the support of the International Journalism Fund Transat-Le Devoir.
Before his PSG match against Brest, young Bradley Barcola attracts praise from the media who…
Before his PSG match against Brest, young Bradley Barcola attracts praise from the media who…
© Warner Bros After two particularly successful feature films, Stephen King's It Saga will be…
© Renault It’s always interesting to know where products that we can use on a…
The fire that broke out in the massif of Aspres Thursday, is now fixed. On…
À the origin of the The Mazan rape case, Dominique Pélicot had first attracted attention…