This is meant as an unofficial thread for the Daily Kos Elections crowd to discuss what is going on with Biden and efforts to get him to step down from the Presidential nomination. This is because very wisely talk over who should be the nominee aka primary talk is forbidden because it tends to drown out all other talk. All I ask for in this thread is that we keep it to electoral politics (how it will affect the election) rather than policy.
As things stand. There have been unconfirmed rumors of all sorts of stuff. Press releases and behind the scenes talk from Biden defending his position but little of him engaging the press with only an interview for future news segments being recorded with George Stephanopoulos on Friday. A couple of prominent Democrats have publicly called for a change, some have expressed reservations but most either publicly support Joe Biden and/or are keeping their own reservations to themselves.
A few points.
1) Joe Biden is and remains the presumptive nominee. He won almost all the delegates who are pledged to him. Most selected by his campaign. The Democratic Party does not bind delegates not withstanding whatever state rules or laws may or may not apply. This means while Joe Biden could decide to step aside as long as Joe Biden remain cogent there is no realistic scenario where that changes against his will.
2) Deadlines dictate that the formal roll call vote that will make our nominee official is going to happen soon. Probably later this month. After that any change becomes MUCH more highly problematic.
Republicans in states they control the legislature and/or the secretary of state office will try to throw road blocks if we make a change. We’re holding an early roll call vote because they already tried playing games with things as they currently stand.
3) The roll call vote will be held virtually with as many votes as necessary for a candidate to obtain a majority. If Joe Biden wants the nomination he will get it on a first ballot. Super delegates become major players on a second ballot.
4) The Biden campaign is actually the Biden / Harris campaign. That means it’s money and organization can only be utilized by Joe Biden and/or Kamala Harris. This along with other factors makes Kamala Harris the most likely person to continue on if Joe Biden steps aside.
5) There has been poll slippage. Whether it is the actual debate itself or how Democrats and/or the Biden campaign have mishandled it’s aftermath is an open question. But remember this is July. A world of events, scandals, and even wars can happen in a 4 month span. For better or worse nothing is set in stone.