As nearly 4,000 delegates will descend on Chicago for the Democratic National Convention next month, there’s a growing feeling of uncertainty among Democratic delegates poised to nominate President Joe Biden amid the fallout over his disastrous debate performance.
While there are concerns among Congressional Democrats over the future of Biden’s reelection bid, delegates interviewed on Friday by the Washington Examiner said they still support the president’s push for a second term while acknowledging the window is closing if Biden should change his mind.
“Everyone’s waiting for it to sort out,” said one delegate asking for anonymity to speak candidly. “There’s great apprehension. But the fervor to beat Donald Trump has not dropped one bit. Everyone’s just totally focused on beating Trump. Trump is a great unifier.”
It is not too late for a replacement for Biden to be swapped. According to the DNC’s 2022 document which outlines procedures for the convention, there’s a process to replace Biden if he voluntarily chooses to step aside after the convention ends on Aug. 22, according to an analysis of party rules from NBC News.
However, for now, many delegates insist they are still largely supportive of Biden. Michigan Democratic Party chairwoman Lavora Barnes acknowledges Biden’s debate performance was a “rough night,” but is standing firmly behind the president.
“We are solidly behind President Biden here in Michigan, and we’re very focused on the work that we know we need to do to win in November. That’s what we’re doing,” Barnes told the Washington Examiner.
Barnes didn’t want to engage in hypothetical questions about a possible swap of a nominee and whether the Democratic Party would coalesce behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I wouldn’t want to entertain speculation about a switch. Joe Biden is our nominee, and until he tells me he is not, he is our nominee, and that is all. But I am also fully committed to Biden and Harris — and we are all here in Michigan fully committed to Biden and Harris.”
A delegate from the battleground state of Arizona spoke to the Washington Examiner on the condition of anonymity, in fear that speaking to the press could jeopardize their standing.
“I unfortunately think it’s far too late for us to be having this debate, and I think we should stick with Biden,” the delegate said. “The chaos and division is exactly what the Republicans want, and we’d be playing right into their hands if we actually think about replacing the top of our ticket.”
During the convention this year, delegates are expected to formally pick the nominee via virtual roll call, which is set to take place by Aug. 7, two weeks ahead of the convention. The move was planned initially in conjunction with Ohio’s early candidate certification deadline. However, Ohio state law was changed last month, making the virtual vote unnecessary.
The push to move forward with the virtual roll call vote anyway could signal concerns about Biden’s ability to lock up the nomination quickly. In a post on X, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) emphasized delegates are not required to vote for Biden at the convention.
“Counter to popular belief, the rules of the Democratic Party do NOT require that pledged delegates vote for Biden at the convention. Party rules require delegates’ votes, “reflect the sentiments of those who elected them,” at the time the delegates cast their ballots,” Sherman said in a post.
“Democratic Primary voters have one overarching sentiment: We need a candidate who will beat Donald Trump,” he added in a subsequent post.
HOW BIDEN COULD BE REPLACED AS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE
Should Biden stand down — which he said Friday would not happen, barring divine intervention — there’s “consensus” building around Harris, according to the first delegate.
“Everyone expects this convention to be settled before we get there. I mean, right now, it’s Biden,” the delegate said. “If it’s not Biden, people believe it’s going to be Kamala Harris.”
Delegates downplayed the potential for an “open convention,” where there is no pre-determined nominee and delegates are free to vote on new candidates. The Democratic Party hasn’t had an open convention since 1968 during the Vietnam War when President Lyndon B. Johnson announced he wouldn’t seek reelection.
“No one is envisioning a raucous, open convention. Jim Clyburn just endorsed the vice president should Biden step down. Biden made it very clear that’s his choice,” the delegate added.
Joseph Geller, a former Miami-Dade Democratic Party chairman and a delegate from Florida, said he will support Biden and hopes he stays in the race.
“Joe Biden’s the nominee unless he said, ‘No, I’m not going to do it’,” Geller said. “The support for him is broad and deep, and everybody else just needs to exhale, take a breath, calm down, and focus on the job at hand.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Any candidate needs a simple majority of the party’s estimated 3,939 pledged delegates on the first ballot to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. Biden reached that number by winning state primaries and caucuses in mid-March.
However, Biden could release his delegates, or they could decide not to support him. If a candidate does not win during the first ballot, an additional 739 “superdelegates” have the opportunity to vote. The superdelegates include party elected officials and other high-profile figures.
