President Biden’s Debate Performance Sparks Speculation Within Democratic Party

President Joe Biden‘s performance in the recent debate has led to speculation within the Democratic Party regarding his candidacy.

In the modern era, a major party has never actively sought to replace its nominee, as it is a complex and unlikely process, but the issue has come up at times of internal turmoil.

If President Biden were to drop out before being formally nominated, it would trigger a competitive scenario within the Democratic party, with no clear mechanism for anointing a successor.

Democratic National Committee rules permit some provisions for replacing a candidate in case of unavailability, but these are designed for situations like death or resignation, not replacing an incumbent unwilling to step down.

The decision-making at this stage would largely fall to the delegates, with over 4,000 pledged delegates in play and more than 700 superdelegates that could be influential in a contested convention.

Vice President Kamala Harris, being Biden’s running mate, is not automatically guaranteed the position at the top of the ticket if Biden chose to step down, adding another layer of complexity to the potential process of selecting a new nominee.

The possibility of a vacancy at the top of the ticket could lead to constitutional, legal, and practical challenges, especially considering the timing and logistics of changing ballots close to an election.

Furthermore, the notion of replacing a nominee adversarially involves intricate party dynamics, with various factors at play during such a scenario, making the process even more complex.