As President Joe Biden steps aside, doubts about Vice President Kamala Harris's ability to defeat Donald Trump are intensifying. With polls showing Harris's approval plummeting and key Democratic leaders withholding their endorsements, the party faces a turbulent path to unity as they brace for the upcoming election.
President Joe Biden informed his team this weekend of his doubts about Vice President Kamala Harris's ability to defeat former President Donald Trump before deciding to step aside on Sunday. Recent polling supports Biden's concerns, with a YouGov poll showing Harris's approval rating at a mere 36 percent, while a Rasmussen poll reports Trump's approval has risen to 51 percent. Democrats may be further complicating their situation by backing Harris.
Biden’s apprehension highlights the disunity within the Democratic Party compared to the unity of the Republicans as they approach November.
The president endorsed Harris on his personal X account about 30 minutes after announcing his decision to step aside, which Republicans found unusual.
Following Biden's endorsement, many party leaders, including the “squad,” Bill and Hillary Clinton, and various Democratic state and federal lawmakers, have begun to rally around Harris.
However, some prominent figures, such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and former President Barack Obama, have not yet endorsed Harris. Obama stated, “We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead, but I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”
According to Politico Playbook, Pelosi, Jeffries, Schumer, and Obama are hesitant to endorse Harris because they do not want to appear as party bosses orchestrating her nomination.
Democrats are cautious about being seen as undermining democracy by removing Biden, who secured approximately 14 million Democratic primary votes, from the ticket. Harris, on the other hand, did not win any primary delegates in 2016.
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