(OPINION) Democrats are scrambling for a potential replacement for President Joe Biden on the 2024 ticket after his embarrassing debate performance against Donald Trump.
However, according to post-debate polling, Michelle Obama is so far the only potential Democratic challenger who could beat Trump.
Others names like California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Vice President Kamala Harris are being floated – but none so far are faring better than Trump in polls.
While the former first lady has not publicly expressed interest in being on the ticket, it appears she has one of the clearest paths toward being added to the ballot and accepted by Democrats.
Those within the Democratic Party have acknowledged, however, that party rules make it hard for other candidates to earn the nomination this year and if Biden doesn’t agree to step aside, the prospects become essentially impossible.
Delegates were finalized at selection on June 22 and were chosen state-by-state to represent support for the president in the nomination process. It’s unlikely they would shift their backing.
There are 43,933 pledged Democratic delegates for 2024 and to win the presidential nomination a candidate must earn a majority of them – estimated at 1,968 this year.
But many say they aren’t changing this late in the game.
‘That’s not even remotely a topic of conversation,’ Aaron Sims, a Biden delegate in Nevada, told ABC News on changing his vote from Biden to another candidate.
And Sami Khaldi, a Biden delegate from Michigan, added: ‘I am still supporting President Biden until this moment.’
Democratic delegates are ‘pledged’ to a candidate meaning by party rules delegates ‘shall in all good conscience’ reflect the views of those who elected them.
There is no official penalty if a delegate votes differently – but if a Biden delegate simply sits out of the first round of balloting instead of backing the president, their vote would not count towards anyone.
Michelle Obama, who has never held any elected position, has promising polling figures, popularity among voters and ability to draw from her husband’s political connections – and she might be just what the party needs to get back on track.
Former President Barack Obama spoke on the phone with his former VP after the debate Thursday to offer support and private counsel. But behind the scenes, he has told allies that Biden’s tough reelection path has grown even more challenging after stumbling his way through the showdown with Trump.
There are only four months until the 2024 presidential election and the Democratic National Committee will have its official candidate decided by August 22, which is the last day of the nominating convention in Chicago, Illinois.
If Michelle Obama were actually to become the party’s nominee, they would need to act fast to convince Biden to bow out and recruit the former first lady to step-in before the Democratic Convention.
Newsom and Whitmer have dismissed chatter about them taking over for Biden and reaffirmed after the car crash debate their commitment to backing the president’s reelection.
