I agree that a Whitmer-Warnock ticket would be very compelling. Both are battle hardened, dynamic rising stars within the Democratic Party from key swing states and if the primary field were wide open I would be an enthusiastic supporter.
It's not going to happen in 2024 though. At least in this universe. The idea that Biden would step as…
I agree that a Whitmer-Warnock ticket would be very compelling. Both are battle hardened, dynamic rising stars within the Democratic Party from key swing states and if the primary field were wide open I would be an enthusiastic supporter.
It's not going to happen in 2024 though. At least in this universe. The idea that Biden would step aside, then Harris would do the same or lose traction in a contested primary, and the Democrats would then quickly and decisively coalesce around Gretchen Whitmer and Raphael Warnock - is fantastical wish casting. Several highly improbable events would have to occur in quick succession.
So several months after announcing his re-election bid, Biden would say 'just kidding' and suddenly decide not to run again? Because he suddenly realizes he's 81 years old? And Hunter has a lot of issues? And he's being blamed for last year's high inflation? I'm sure he's thought about all of this before making his decision. Also, Biden has wanted to be president for a long time - he ran for the first time in the 1980s and after several attempts finally got elected - and I am sure is confident in his ability to continue to hold the office. He's just going to walk away? Won't happen!
Then there's Kamala Harris. If Biden did step aside, what would she do? As the incumbent vice president she is the heir apparent and would be in a very favorable position to become the nominee. Obviously, she also has presidential ambitions, given her 2020 run. I would be amazed if she also decided to step aside and basically acknowledge the media narrative that she's unpopular. Biden could simply cite his age; Harris would be seen as giving in to the critics and the haters. Not to mention how bad it would look for the Democratic Party if both the incumbent president and vice president stepped aside. Harris would definitely run for the nomination, and if anyone else wanted to challenge her there would be a very contentious and divisive primary that would weaken the ultimate nominee and divide and damage the party.
Let's go back to the alternate universe where Biden and Harris both step aside. Would Whitmer and Warnock even decide to get in? Who else would run? Maybe Mayor Pete, Elizabeth Warren and/or Bernie Sanders? Would there be a battle between the progressive wing and more centrist wings of the party, like in 2016 and 2020? Because of the proportional delegate system the Democrats use, the nominee might not be decided until May or June. Like in 2016. A protracted primary battle for a party nomination is great for media ratings; not so much for the party. A lot of money, hundreds of millions of dollars, would be raised and spent by the candidates running in the primaries; contrast this with Biden's and the DNC's campaign war chest that is ready to be deployed in the general election.
Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee and Harris will be his running mate. Period. Any speculation about a unicorn alternative ticket is at this point a counterproductive waste of time.
I agree that a Whitmer-Warnock ticket would be very compelling. Both are battle hardened, dynamic rising stars within the Democratic Party from key swing states and if the primary field were wide open I would be an enthusiastic supporter.
It's not going to happen in 2024 though. At least in this universe. The idea that Biden would step aside, then Harris would do the same or lose traction in a contested primary, and the Democrats would then quickly and decisively coalesce around Gretchen Whitmer and Raphael Warnock - is fantastical wish casting. Several highly improbable events would have to occur in quick succession.
So several months after announcing his re-election bid, Biden would say 'just kidding' and suddenly decide not to run again? Because he suddenly realizes he's 81 years old? And Hunter has a lot of issues? And he's being blamed for last year's high inflation? I'm sure he's thought about all of this before making his decision. Also, Biden has wanted to be president for a long time - he ran for the first time in the 1980s and after several attempts finally got elected - and I am sure is confident in his ability to continue to hold the office. He's just going to walk away? Won't happen!
Then there's Kamala Harris. If Biden did step aside, what would she do? As the incumbent vice president she is the heir apparent and would be in a very favorable position to become the nominee. Obviously, she also has presidential ambitions, given her 2020 run. I would be amazed if she also decided to step aside and basically acknowledge the media narrative that she's unpopular. Biden could simply cite his age; Harris would be seen as giving in to the critics and the haters. Not to mention how bad it would look for the Democratic Party if both the incumbent president and vice president stepped aside. Harris would definitely run for the nomination, and if anyone else wanted to challenge her there would be a very contentious and divisive primary that would weaken the ultimate nominee and divide and damage the party.
Let's go back to the alternate universe where Biden and Harris both step aside. Would Whitmer and Warnock even decide to get in? Who else would run? Maybe Mayor Pete, Elizabeth Warren and/or Bernie Sanders? Would there be a battle between the progressive wing and more centrist wings of the party, like in 2016 and 2020? Because of the proportional delegate system the Democrats use, the nominee might not be decided until May or June. Like in 2016. A protracted primary battle for a party nomination is great for media ratings; not so much for the party. A lot of money, hundreds of millions of dollars, would be raised and spent by the candidates running in the primaries; contrast this with Biden's and the DNC's campaign war chest that is ready to be deployed in the general election.
Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee and Harris will be his running mate. Period. Any speculation about a unicorn alternative ticket is at this point a counterproductive waste of time.