Joe Biden has reportedly become more open in recent days to hearing arguments that he should step aside as the Democratic presidential candidate after the party’s two main congressional leaders told him they doubted his ability to beat Donald Trump.

While continuing to insist he will be the party’s nominee in November, the president has reportedly started asking questions about negative polling data and whether Vice-President Kamala Harris, considered the favourite to replace him if were to withdraw, fares better.

The indications of a possible rethink come after Biden tested positive on Wednesday for Covid-19, forcing him to isolate for several days while curtailing a campaigning visit to Nevada that had been part of a drive to show his candidacy was very much alive.

It also coincides with fresh polling data showing that he now trails Trump by two points in Virginia, a state he won by 10 points in 2020.

  • Pronell@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I do wonder how a Kamala Harris / AOC ticket would go.

    Probably not well given how racist and misogynistic this country is. But it would energize many people.

    • nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      4 months ago

      Few things would energize me more. Biden would have gotten a begrudging vote from me at most. If youre going to slot AOC into the VP pick, I will estatically take 4 years of Kamala. To me there are few if any better investments in the political health of the country than VP AOC.

      • eldavi@lemmy.ml
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        4 months ago

        Few things would energize me more. Biden would have gotten a begrudging vote from me at most.

        same here except i vacillate daily on voting for biden due to his history and its impact on my life.

        a candidate that doesn’t have a 4 decade long history of anti-gay, anti-feminist, pro-segregationists, pro-corporate, anti-student policies, actions and votes would easily convince me to vote democrat.

        • PugJesus@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          You do realize there’s more to the electorate than just dedicated Dem voters, right?

          Just because we’ll be telling people to “vote Blue no matter who” doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily do it.

            • PugJesus@lemmy.world
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              4 months ago

              In part. There are even more bizarre types. I know strong union supporters who vote Republican, but have positive opinions on Bernie. I know liberal voters who voted Trump in 2016 to ‘shake things up’ (I am not very close with them, for obvious reasons). Many people in this country do not have a coherent ideology they vote by, and are swayed by many small factors.

        • Omega@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          It’s a lot harder to shame centrists into doing the right thing.

          Progressives have to stomach what they know is best for the country, even though they don’t think it’s good enough.

          Centrists by definition aren’t committed to what’s best for the country.

        • NOT_RICK@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          You can want a very Progressive candidate and acknowledge that you need to win the middle of the electorate in first past the post voting systems at the same time

      • Pronell@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Possibly, but would those centrists flee to Trump? He’s already got the racist vote.

        • whotookkarl@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          A charismatic younger candidate pushing progressive policy improves voter turnout, otherwise what did the Dems learn from Obama’s first election despite not being a big national name before running?

          • thoro@lemmy.ml
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            4 months ago

            Nothing. But a good portion of the electorate did get to learn about the power of marketing and the difference between liberalism and socialism

    • foggy@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Kamala and Bernie

      Let Bernie in the oval office. Nobody deserves it more than him. He’s too old for pres, but God damn would he get shit done between inauguration as vp and his grave…

    • dhork@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      AOC has time. If I were writing the script, I would go with Harris/Whitmer, followed by Whitmer/AOC. Assuming each ticket wins two terms, AOC would be in her 50’s then and be one of the most qualified candidates in 2040.

      Can you imagine three Female Presidents in a row?

      • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        That’s quite the fantasy but no major party has held the presidency that long without the other major party literally falling apart.

        It would be awesome, but don’t count on it.

      • Lemming6969@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Or right now while she is still young, relevant, and still gives a flying fuck. You always strike while the iron’s hot.

    • The Snark Urge@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Not quite old enough I think? I checked and I think she turns 35 this year. Not sure how the particular rules apply.

    • Wilzax@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      They would never run together lmao they’re total opposite ends of the democrat spectrum

      • BallsandBayonets@lemmings.world
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        4 months ago

        You could also view it as they’re the perfect way to get the conservative Dem votes and the progressive votes. And since the conservative Dem would be the presidential candidate, the owner class is more likely to permit it.

        • Wilzax@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          If it happened it would have a good chance to work. But I just don’t see someone as progressive as AOC ever getting picked to be the VP with someone as neoliberal as Harris

      • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOP
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        4 months ago

        That’s kind of what you want in the WH. Two people who think the same things the same way don’t make for good leadership.

        • Wilzax@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          The Obama administration seemed like pretty strong leadership and Joe and Barack seemed pretty aligned