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The biggest issue for the Democrats? “Kamala Harris,” said one deep-pocketed donor. “She has very low approval ratings, but because of (President) Biden’s age, her position is even more important. Even if he does win, do we honestly think he will make it the full four years? At this point, whoever is vice president is just as important as the president because they are likely to have to step into the position at some point.”
According to an ABC/Ipsos poll, a whopping 86% of Americans think Biden is too old to run, and both Harris and Biden suffer from a net favorability of negative 15 percentage points, according to the LA Times.
According to several sources, conversations have been had at the highest levels of the Democratic Party about possible replacements, which include the very eager California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer – but talks went nowhere.
Newsom went so far as to tell NewsNation host Chris Cuomo he is not making a 2024 presidential run and will instead continue to back Biden and that Harris is “the best choice” for VP. Whether or not that was just lip service, Biden is still seen as being stuck with Harris.
“Biden is in trouble with Black voters,” another source said. “And the last thing he needs to do now is dump a Black VP for a white one.”
Harris has made it clear she is not ready or willing to step down and announced in February, “I am ready to serve.”
Meanwhile, presumed Republican nominee former President Donald Trump has yet to announce his VP pick, with potential nominees said to include New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Vivek Ramaswamy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whom Trump mercilessly mocked last year as Ron “DeSanctimonious”.