Recent developments within the Democratic Party suggest that Vice President Kamala Harris might not have an easy path to taking over from her superior, President Joe Biden. The party was thrown into disarray on Sunday when news broke about Biden’s decision to withdraw his campaign, causing shockwaves that reverberated through the party’s top echelons well into Monday.
Prominent liberal figures such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have publicly endorsed Harris for president. However, there are some conspicuous absences, most notably that of former President Barack Obama. This leaves room for speculation about a contested party convention next month.
One senator who is contemplating his chances in such a situation is Joe Manchin (I-WV). The ex-Democrat, now an independent, is reportedly discussing with advisors the possibility of re-registering as a Democrat and seeking the party’s nomination at their Chicago convention.
According to the Western Journal, Manchin, who was the first sitting senator to urge Biden to withdraw from the race, is seriously considering throwing his hat into the ring.
Jake Tapper, a seasoned Capitol Hill reporter, had a conversation with Senator Manchin on Sunday. The West Virginia lawmaker reiterated his desire for an ‘open’ and transparent nomination process within the Democratic Party. ‘We have a lot of talent on the bench, a lot of good people,’ Manchin told Tapper. He expressed his preference for governors, arguing that they can’t afford to be partisan because infrastructure issues don’t align with party lines.
When asked who else he would like to see challenge former President Donald Trump, Senator Manchin named several other Democrats from red states who remain popular despite opposition from state legislatures. ‘I’ve got two tremendous governors right next door to me, Andy Beshear in Kentucky and Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania, who are working with legislatures that are either evenly split or completely opposite their party affiliation,’ Manchin said. ‘They haven’t divided their state. They haven’t made you pick a side and demonize the other side.’
Andy Beshear, who endorsed Harris late Sunday night, is reportedly being considered for her running mate, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Political conventions typically attract the most ardent activists within their Republican and Democratic bases. Many of these individuals lean more conservative or liberal than the parties’ presidential nominees. This could make it extremely difficult for Senator Manchin, who is disliked by the far left, to pose a serious challenge to Harris. However, his potential role as a spoiler may force Democrats to confront accusations that they are ignoring the will of millions of Democratic primary voters who voted for Biden and are instead planning to crown Harris.
The absence of competition would contradict a ‘blitz primary’ previously suggested by top Democrats, which would give Democrats an opportunity to leverage celebrities like Taylor Swift to draw attention to their ticket.
On Sunday, President Trump launched a series of attacks on Democrats for concealing news of Biden’s health issues from the public and pledged to take the fight to Harris. ‘The Democrats pick a candidate, Crooked Joe Biden, he loses the debate badly, then panics, and makes mistake after mistake… These people are the real THREAT TO DEMOCRACY!’ he wrote early Monday morning.
Final Thoughts
The Democratic Party appears to be in disarray with internal conflicts coming to the surface. As conservatives, we must keep a vigilant eye on these developments and continue to push for transparency and fairness in our political processes. The future of our democracy depends on it.
Good more Dem divide Hooray