“ Are you going to be the next Democratic nominee?” a foreign reporter asked California Governor Gavin Newsom at last Thursday’s presidential debate.
“No, our nominee is Joe Biden,” Newsom said. “I'm looking forward to voting for him in November.”
After his disastrous performance, President Biden affirmed that he would not drop out of the race and would debate Trump as scheduled in September. Meanwhile, many analysts believe replacing Biden now would be near-impossible. Biden secured about 99% of pledged delegates, and delegates are expected to vote according to these results, as per party rules.
However, there are still scenarios under which Newsom could become the Democratic nominee. First and foremost, Biden could voluntarily step down. NBC News reports that he is considering doing so at this very moment. That would allow the Democratic Party convention in August to hold an open contest.
Second, Biden’s cabinet could challenge his competency under the 25th Amendment. White House staffers told Axios that Biden can only work productively between 10 am and 4 pm. Biden’s faltering memory and inability to speak suggest he may not be able to serve as commander-in-chief. A new CBS poll finds that just 27% of voters surveyed believe Biden has the mental and cognitive health to be president, and nearly three-quarters don’t think he should be seeking re-election.
Third, Biden is under severe pressure from the news media to step down. Given the central role of the mainstream corporate media in determining what Democratic politicians do, it is hardly far-fetched to imagine that Biden could ultimately withdraw.
If the party can select a new candidate, several prominent Democrats, including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Vice President Kamala Harris, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, may vie for the nomination. Newsom is the most powerful among the bunch. Oddsmakers increased Newsom’s chance of winning the nomination by about 20% after the debate, making him the most likely Democrat who could replace Biden.
“You know that everyone are [sic] talking about you as a possible nominee now?” said the foreign reporter on Thursday night. “Are you enjoying it?”
