Democrats Going Wobbly on Biden
Top Democrats are increasingly worried that the president doesn’t have what it takes for 2024
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What’s happening: Top Democrats are increasingly alarmed about Biden’s re-election chances after taking stock of a recent slate of dismal polls. Some key allies are publicly calling for the president to drop out of the race. Still, others are laying the groundwork for a possible successor.
Making moves: Rumors about Biden stepping aside in 2024 have been swirling for months. Last week, however, Axios noted a number of high-profile Democrat lawmakers have begun quietly taking steps “to boost their national profiles and position themselves to run for president in 2028 — or in 2024,” if Biden steps aside.
Governors: California governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker have each launched their own national political groups in recent months.
Congress: New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and California Congressman Ro Khanna have been establishing connections in early-voting states like New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Plus, Dean Phillips, a Democrat congressman from Minnesota, recently stepped down from a spot in House Democrat leadership to launch a long-shot primary challenge against Biden.
Just in case: With the exception of Phillips, the ambitious lawmakers on the Democrat bench insist they are all-in for Biden in 2024. But the behind-the-scenes maneuvering suggests some Democrats acknowledge the need for a contingency plan.
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