Kavita Bisht
The recent presidential debate on June 27 has raised questions about the campaign of President Joe Biden and who might be the candidate instead of him on the side of Democrats. In the debate Biden seemed to have faded, he lost focus and looked very tired, which has sparked more questions again about whether the man is fit to lead the country for another 4 years. Subsequently, demands from the Democratic Party for Biden to get out of the race have been made. Amidst these issues, several potential contenders of the party have started to appear, of which some are Kamala Harris, the Vice President and Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California. The increased unpredictability has turned it into a must-discover alternative to Biden for the Democrats as they plan for the 2024 presidential election.
Kamala Harris: The Natural Successor
Kamala Harris is currently the Vice President of the United States, and she has a strong political profile. In California, she served as both a prosecutor and a senator; many viewed her as the natural heir to the Democratic ticket’s power duo of Joe Biden. She has a great appeal to young people particularly the millennials, and minorities and firmly stands on the issue of women’s reproductive rights. Yet, even here the findings of the polls are conflicting. One Ipsos poll reveals that 43% of voters claimed that they would vote for Harris, which also reveals her opportunities as well as the problems she might face to rally more people.
Gavin Newsom: The Ambitious Governor
Gavin Newsom, the aspiring governor of California, has been quite active in the past few years; Newsom went canvassing across four major battlegrounds including Michigan and Pennsylvania. Armed with progressive policies and dynamic leadership style, Newsom has emerged as one of the influential Democrats. Similarly, the same Ipsos poll reveals that 39% of the voters would vote for Newsom, which goes to show his popularity. Another hypothesis is about the Harris-Newsom ticket, when both these will join their efforts in the campaign and become unbeatable.
Gretchen Whitmer: The Rising Star
Some governors have emerged to the limelight due to their actions among them is the Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer. People have widely accepted her just because she is leading a fight in a swing state. An Ipsos poll shows the probable voter choice indicates 36% of all the voters in the state would vote for Gretchen Whitmer. Her performance in the recent elections to the legislative assembly of Michigan consolidates her as a valid contender, but there is no way of predicting that from which of the Democratic representatives she would enjoy support.
JB Pritzker: The Progressive Voice
Currently, JB Pritzker is the governor of Illinois; he is a liberal who actively criticized the now ex-president, Donald Trump. His attraction to the progressive voters added to his campaign funding propels him as a solid candidate. Specifically, according to the latest Ipsos survey, a total of 34% of voters said they would vote Pritzker. But his key issue is that he has to defy his tag as an establishment and try to win the support of the general populace.
Josh Shapiro: The Level-Headed Leader
Josh Shapiro, the Governor of Pennsylvania is seen as rational and realistic candidate. That is why his high approval ratings, as well as the victory in one of the swing states are considered to be the benefits. Another poll carried out by Siena College points to the fact that 57% of people approve the job being done by Shapiro. Nevertheless, his position on the Israel and the Gaza issue might draw a line within the Democratic camp itself.
Conclusion
While questions regarding Joe Biden’s capabilities in leadership rise after the debate, the Democrats are left with the challenge of finding a suitable presidential candidate for 2024. Kamala Harris can bring a powerful and charismatic personality to the ticket; Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, JB Pritzker, and Josh Shapiro each have their advantages and disadvantages. The choice will influence the continuation of the Democratic campaign and the chances of the party for uniting against the Republican contender. The nation watches closely as the Democratic Party tries to manages this period.
