\u201cThe discussion in that meeting of the California delegation, which includes 40 members, took place in the Capitol on July 10, at least partly focused on the complicated next steps for the Democratic Party if Biden left the ticket. And they specifically talked about the potential political downsides of party elites quickly crowning the vice president as the next nominee, according to four people familiar with the discussion, granted anonymity to discuss private conversations,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n
But the reason that the former speaker and many in the party want a competition and not a coronation is to avoid the appearance of elites selecting the nominee after around 14 million Democrats voted for Biden and the elites are attempting to push him off the ballot.<\/p>\n
\u201cNancy was leading that charge that it needed to be an open process,\u201d a source said on the condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould he make that decision, there will have to be quick steps. I don\u2019t think we can do a coronation, but obviously the vice president would be the leading candidate,\u201d California Democrat Rep. Zoe Lofgrena said as she suggested a \u201cmini primary\u201d with events that she proposed be hosted by former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.<\/p>\n
It is believed by many that if there were a mini primary there would be no viable Democrats who would challenge her for fear of being ostracized.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think she is the best person,\u201d Ohio Democrat Rep. Greg Landsman said. \u201cHow that plays out? I don\u2019t know. I know that people are worried and have legitimate concerns. It\u2019s unknown and there\u2019s uncertainty in that. And I get it. I\u2019m right there, too, but I think this is the right thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
But there are other Democrats who are concerned that the vice president\u2019s chances may be the same, or worse, than the president\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve talked to some Democrats. They don\u2019t want Kamala Harris,\u201d a member who spoke on the condition of anonymity said. \u201cEither way, I think it looks difficult in November. Unless you get somebody who really will unite everybody together. But if you get another candidate, what happens to Kamala?\u201d<\/p>\n
Some Democrats have not needed anonymity to pressure Biden to step aside. Montana Sen. John Tester is among them.<\/p>\n
\u201cMontanans have put their trust in me to do what is right and it is a responsibility I take seriously. I have worked with President Biden when it has made Montana stronger, and I\u2019ve never been afraid to stand up to him when he is wrong. And while I appreciate his commitment to public service and our country, I believe President Biden should not seek re-election to another term,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His comments were met with a response from Cedric Richmond, a co-chair of Biden\u2019s re-election campaign when he appeared on MSNBC.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like Sen. Tester. I think he\u2019s one of our great fighters in the Democratic Party,\u201d he said. \u201cBut on this, I will tell you, I think he\u2019s wrong, and I think that we should be focused on re-electing the president and the vice president, and our senators and our Congress people should be running their race to get re-elected.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lifetime between now and Election Day, and if we focus on what we should, we\u2019ll come out on top,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cThe discussion in that meeting of the California delegation, which includes 40 members, took place in the Capitol on July 10, at least partly focused on the complicated next steps for the Democratic Party if Biden left the ticket. And they specifically talked about the potential political downsides of party elites quickly crowning the vice…<\/p>\n