Tensions within the Democratic party reached a boiling point Sunday as President Joe Biden’s decision to step aside and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris sent shockwaves through the party ranks. According to sources close to Biden, the president had privately expressed doubts about Harris’s ability to defeat former President Donald Trump before making his announcement.
Biden’s endorsement of Harris via his personal Twitter account, followed shortly after his announcement, has sparked a flurry of endorsements from party leaders and lawmakers. However, notable Democratic figures such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and former President Barack Obama have yet to throw their support behind Harris. Politico Playbook reports that these leaders are hesitant to appear as “back-room party bosses engineering a Harris coronation,” given the delicate nature of the party’s situation.
The party’s internal strife has been exacerbated by concerns about perceptions of undemocratic decision-making. Democrats are wary of appearing to attack democracy by removing Biden from the ticket, despite his own doubts about Harris’s abilities. Harris, the clear frontrunner to secure the Democratic nomination, has struggled to generate widespread support, with an approval rating of just 38.6 percent, according to FiveThirtyEight. Biden’s approval rating is 38.5 percent. In contrast, the Republican party appears more united heading into November, with few indications of internal conflict.
Additional Democrat nominee contenders include Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA), Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC), Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL), and Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY).
