Staff Reports
The warning signs regarding President Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign were as bright as neon lights for anyone paying attention. Yet, it took a showdown with Donald Trump for Democrats to realize the president might want to take a permanent vacation from politics. Volunteer campaign shills within the Democratic Party had mixed feelings about Biden dropping out—some called for it, while others pretended he was just facing “a mild cognitive hiccup.” The consensus among voters, however, seemed to revolve around growing doubts about Biden’s age and mental sharpness, a concern that turned into a marching order once the poll numbers came in. Once Biden finally made the decision to step aside, reactions ranged from relief to the classic “What now?”
Polls prior to Biden’s exit painted a muddled picture. A YouGov survey indicated that a significant number of Americans, particularly Democrats, believed it was time for Biden to make a graceful exit, much like that one uncle at a wedding who has had a bit too much to drink. In fact, after he jumped ship officially, a fresh YouGov poll found that a whopping 71% of respondents—including 70% of Democrats—approved of this new chapter in the ol’ Joe saga. It seems that even among his own party, a sizable faction was more than ready to boot him out of the spotlight.
But speculation looms over whether Biden’s exit is good news for Kamala Harris, the vice president who was left holding the bag after Biden’s endorsement. Democrats might have been expecting an enthusiastic rally around Harris as the new candidate, but instead, the reception was more lukewarm than a long-forgotten cup of coffee. Even within her own party, a considerable number of members expressed skepticism, as many are still wondering if she could actually beat Trump. A generous portion of Independents and Republicans seemed to think that Biden stepping back, rather than being beneficial, actually gave Trump a much clearer path to strut back into the Oval Office.
When forced to weigh in on Harris’s viability, the enthusiasm rapidly waned. Only 60% of Democrats were willing to support her for president, while 21% expressed a desire for “someone else,” and a good chunk was just flat-out confused. A greater plurality of Independents seemed far more inclined to explore alternatives rather than line up behind the vice president. Could this be a sign that the Harris campaign is shaping up to be more of a marathon of hesitance than a sprint to the finish?
Town Hall: Poll: Here's How Biden's Fellow Democrats Feel About Him Dropping Out of the Race https://t.co/pJP4AdqR7u
— Ian Hansen 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@IanHansenFeed) July 22, 2024
Polls continued to reflect this skepticism. Virtually every major sampling showed a significant number of votes—especially among Independents—leaning toward the idea that some challengers within the Democratic ranks might shake things up. With Biden no longer in the equation, 44% of respondents believed it was quite possible Harris would face challengers. Even Democrats seemed to hold their collective breath on what would come next, with 61% of them believing she’d get the official nod, a number that feels shockingly low given the circumstances.
To top it all off, a majority of respondents believe Kamala Harris is much less qualified than previous Democratic nominees—yikes. While her partisan cheerleaders may defend her, the majority of Independents and Republicans see her as more of a liability than a candidate, solidifying the notion that the Democrats might just be handing the election to Trump on a silver platter. As the clock ticks down to election day, the question remains whether the Democrats can turn this ship around or if they’ll remain caught in their own web of indecision.
