After President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race on Sunday afternoon, he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who, according to recent polling data, is the strongest candidate to take on former President Donald Trump. Biden announced his exit from the race in a letter to the American public posted on social media, following weeks of internal party debate over his candidacy after a lackluster debate performance against Trump late last month.
In his statement, Biden expressed deep gratitude and a commitment to continue serving the nation. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
With Biden stepping aside, the Democratic Party must quickly secure a new nominee by August 7. The Democratic National Convention (DNC), where the party’s nominee will be officially named, is set to take place in Chicago from August 19 to 22.
In the wake of Biden’s announcement, polls began exploring other potential Democratic nominees against Trump. Harris has emerged as a strong contender, except for the wildcard entry of former First Lady Michelle Obama. Limited polling on Obama suggests she could outperform Trump, as she did in one recent poll.
In a CBS News/YouGov poll conducted from July 16 to 18, 51 percent of likely voters chose Trump, compared to 48 percent for Harris. The poll surveyed 2,247 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points. Another poll by Reuters/Ipsos conducted on July 16 showed Harris and Trump tied at 44 percent among registered voters. This poll surveyed 992 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.
A Data for Progress poll conducted on June 28 showed Harris receiving 45 percent of voter support against Trump’s 48 percent. The poll surveyed 1,011 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. In the same poll, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro received 43 percent, while Trump got 46 percent.
Meanwhile, an Emerson College poll conducted between July 7 and 8 found Harris receiving 43 percent of the vote against Trump’s 49 percent. Other Democratic contenders like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and California Governor Gavin Newsom also trailed behind Trump in various match-ups.
In a July 1 to 2 Reuters/Ipsos poll, Michelle Obama was the only potential Democratic candidate to beat Trump, receiving 50 percent of voter support compared to Trump’s 39 percent. This highlights the unique position Obama holds among the electorate, though there has been limited polling on her potential candidacy.
As the Democratic National Convention approaches, the party must decide on its nominee who will face Trump in the general election. Biden’s endorsement of Harris positions her as a leading candidate, but the introduction of Michelle Obama into the race could significantly alter the dynamics. The political landscape remains fluid as both parties gear up for a highly contested election cycle.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024