Biden To Step Aside From The 2024 US Presidential Race?

United States President Joe Biden is facing mounting pressure to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race amidst concerns over his poor debate performance, declining approval ratings, and health concerns, coupled with recent political turmoil, including an assassination attempt on his Republican Rival, Donald Trump. 
Influential Democrats, including former President Barrack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have expressed doubts about Biden’s ability to secure a victory in November, prompting calls for him to step aside and allow a more viable candidate to replace him.

WHY IS BIDEN BEING ASKED TO WITHDRAW?

• Calls have been made by several members of the Democratic Party itself for Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. Influential figures like former President Barack Obama, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Representative Adam Schiff & Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer along with around 2 dozen other Democratic representatives, who have questioned Biden’s ability to secure a win for the following reasons:
• Debate Performance: In the debate with Republican opponent Donald Trump, Biden performed poorly. Although Biden claims that exhaustion was the reason for his poor performance, it has been criticized and has fuelled doubts about his candidacy.  
• Declining approval ratings: Recent polls show a significant drop in Biden’s approval ratings, suggesting that he is trailing behind Trump. About 65% Democrats want Biden to step aside, reflecting a widespread dissatisfaction within the party.
• Age & Health Concerns: At 81, Biden’s age and health have become focal points of concern. Many have expressed concerns about his overall health, believing that it could jeopardize his campaign against Trump and serve a second term. A significant portion of the electorate questions Biden’s mental fitness, with nearly 50% Democrats lacking confidence in Biden’s ability to serve effectively.
• Internal Party Pressure: With Influential party figures expressing lack of confidence in Biden’s candidacy, a large number of Democratic lawmakers believe that Biden’s withdrawal from the Presidential race could infuse the party with enthusiasm as a younger leader takes the reins. This move could reinvigorate the campaign. 

POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS FOR BIDEN

In the event Biden does back out from the 2024 presidential elections, one of the following are the top 5 likely candidates to take his place: 

• Senator Mark Kelly: Current US Senator from Arizona has demonstrated a strong polling performance, being at least 5 points ahead of Biden in a poll conducted by Blue Labs. He is viewed as a strong candidate from a key swing state.
• Governor Gretchen Whitmer: 2-term Democratic Governor of Michigan is strong name, recognised for her progressive policies like abortion access and passing gun safety measures.
• Governor Josh Shapiro: Current Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, a crucial wing state, has significant political experience, resulting in high approval ratings.
• Governor Wes Moore: Being the 1st Black governor of Maryland, Moore is popular for his progressive agenda and leadership.
• Pete Buttigieg: Present Transport Secretary and former presidential candidate, is considered one of the best communicators in Biden’s Administrations, having managed several high-profile crises in his role.

KAMALA HARRIS’ STATUS AS POTENTIAL CANDIDATE

Despite being the 1st female Vice President of the United States of America, the 1st Asian-American Vice President, the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, and having served alongside President Joe Biden since 2021, Kamala Harris has been unsuccessful in becoming a prominent figure in American Politics and garnering broader support in the Democratic Party and the electorate at large. 
She has consistently struggled with low approval ratings throughout her tenure as VP as demonstrated by her low approval ratings at 16%. Her low ratings were exacerbated by her poor handling of immigration issues in the U.S. southern border, and questions were raised about her ability to lead a successful presidential campaign. 
Despite being a prominent figure as Biden’s running mate, Harris failed to emerge as a clear frontrunner when in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, Harris’ performance against Trump was similar to Biden’s, even trailing behind the former President at times. 
Due to these factors, the Democratic Party is hesitant to rally behind Harris as a replacement for Biden. 

While the discussions regarding presidential candidacy are ongoing and pressure is being built on Biden, the situation remains fluid with the President indicating strong commitment to for running in 2024 presidential elections. 
Any potential for Biden to step down would be contingent upon evolving factors such as internal party dynamics, public opinion, and Biden’s personal considerations. 
Although a change in candidacy could bring new zeal and potentially improving polls, it also poses great risks related to logistics, party unity, and loss of established support. With the campaign progressing, the interplay within these factors would shape the ultimate decision of Biden’s Presidential candidacy for 2024.