Staff Reports
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) recently made waves on CNN when he floated the idea of a Democratic “mini-primary” if President Biden decided to bow out of the presidential race. Ah, the Democrats just can’t seem to stick to a script, can they? As August looms with the Democratic National Convention rolling in, everyone’s favorite grandpa, Joe Biden, is set to have his name plastered on the ballot in Ohio. But if Sleepy Joe decides he’s too tired for another round, Clyburn suggested they could just repurpose their virtual meeting to pick a new nominee.
Clyburn, known for his influence during Biden’s 2020 campaign, particularly with a well-timed endorsement before the South Carolina primary, believes the party could adapt the existing process for a mini primary. That’s right, folks, the Democrats might turn their already scheduled roll call into a rescue mission to save their sinking ship. He insists the whole process wouldn’t close anything down but rather, open things up for the general election—whatever that means.
Washington Examiner: Clyburn floats idea of ‘mini primary’ that could pick Biden replacement before DNC https://t.co/i0r1cAXjUA
— Ian Hansen 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@IanHansenFeed) July 3, 2024
Not too surprisingly, after Biden’s less-than-stellar debate performance in Atlanta, Clyburn still claims to stand by the president. Apparently, it’s not enough for Biden to be coherent; being a loyal party figurehead seems to suffice for the Democrats. But of course, Clyburn’s spokeswoman was quick to clarify that the Congressman was merely speaking hypothetically. Let’s be real: in a party where even wild hypotheticals can turn into next week’s reality, it’s worth noting the undercurrent of doubt about Biden’s staying power.
While Clyburn might talk of hypothetical scenarios, it’s no secret that Vice President Kamala Harris is hovering in the wings like a kid waiting to call dibs on the last cookie. Despite murmurs of a mini primary, she remains the party’s top contender, ready to swoop in if Biden conks out. Meanwhile, there are about 700 uncommitted delegates up for grabs. And let’s not forget the other power-hungry Democrats who couldn’t resist such an opportunity.
Names like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) have surfaced as possible replacements. In a party where “progressive” is code for “we don’t know what we stand for anymore,” these governors join multiple Democratic leaders in a not-so-secret pow-wow with Biden. One can only imagine the discussions behind closed doors: strategies on how to replace a faltering president without triggering a chaotic party implosion.
With all the Democrats’ contradictions and hypotheticals, it’s clear that the Biden-Harris ship isn’t as unsinkable as they’d like America to believe. As they scramble to keep the façade of unity intact, the plot twists of the Democratic circus continue to entertain.
