Topline
Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., a key ally of President Joe Biden, said Wednesday Democrats could conduct a “mini primary” to allow multiple candidates to compete to replace Biden if he drops out of the race—openly discussing the future of the Democratic ticket without Biden on it as the president clings to his re-election bid.
US President Joe Biden is welcomed by US Rep. Jim Clyburn at Columbia Metropolitan Airport in West ... [+]
Key Facts
Clyburn endorsed the idea of a “mini primary” when asked by CNN if he would support Vice President Kamala Harris stepping in to replace Biden if he decides to drop his re-election bid, adding that the party should “open up everything for the general election.”
Clyburn was discussing the prospect of having an “open convention” where the approximately 3,900 delegates who are beholden to voting to formalize Biden as the nominee would be free to vote for a different candidate if Biden releases them, in addition to the 700 “unpledged” delegates who are allowed to vote for whoever they please if voting goes to a second round.
Clyburn said “there will definitely be other candidates” in addition to Harris if Biden drops his bid, noting he believes Harris would do “very well” in the process, but it would be “fair to everybody” to open it up, adding that he would be “interested” in also hearing from Democratic governors who might want to run.
Clyburn told MSNBC a day earlier he wanted the “ticket to continue to be Biden-Harris,” but that he would support Harris if she were the eventual nominee.
Clyburn’s comments come as Biden is digging in, telling his campaign staff Wednesday “no one’s pushing me out, I’m not leaving, I’m in this race to the end, and we’re going to win.”
Key Background
Clyburn, who co-chairs Biden’s campaign, is widely viewed to have helped propel Biden’s path to the nomination and shore up support among Black voters in 2020 after Clyburn endorsed him following his losses in the New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucus. Biden called Clyburn Wednesday, along with several other Democratic leaders in Congress, as he attempts to salvage his campaign, following his politically devastating debate performance last week and growing calls, including from one sitting Democrat, for him to drop out.
What To Watch For
In addition to Harris, Govs. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Gavin Newsom of California, Kentucky’s Andy Beshear and Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, are among the names commonly floated to replace Biden.
What We Don’t Know
How an open convention would really work, since it hasn’t happened since the 1960s. Democrats could technically avoid what would likely be a chaotic process if Biden were to drop out and release his delegates to one specific candidate, likely Harris. Democrats are expected to formalize the nominee weeks before the convention is set to kick off Aug. 19 in Chicago to adhere to a since-modified Ohio law requiring nominees to be confirmed at least 90 days before the Nov. 5 election. Ohio has since pushed back the deadline, but the DNC plans to move forward with the early vote anyway.
Further Reading
Biden's Support Suddenly Falters: More Democrats Openly Want Him Out Of Race (Forbes)
