Biden faces backlash for dropping out of US leadership race. Could it really happen? – BBC News Thailand

The backlash against President Joe Biden is beginning to show itself. After the first battle of visions of the American presidential candidates, it ended with Biden not performing well. Especially when compared to Republican Donald Trump.

A source within the Democratic Party told the BBC that party members were shocked and confused by the defeat. There is also a trend of discussion within the party: should President Biden, now 81, give up his leadership and representation in this election?

New York Times Editorial Team It is the heart and lifeblood of liberal power in the United States. She says that Biden today is a “shadow” of his former self. He should retire from politics.

However, this is the question that people often wonder. Can Biden withdraw from the political arena now? If this event actually happened, what would the political situation in the United States be like afterward? Who is the politician who could replace Biden as a Democrat?

These experts consider that if Biden is unwilling to abandon his party's presidential bid, it is unlikely that there will be an alternative to the Democratic Party. If there is no need for coercion from Biden's opponents. The situation will be full of ugly conflicts and rivalries.

In fact, President Biden could still decide to retire from politics for the time being. In any case, recruiting new party representatives to run for the leadership of the United States will be a simple matter and not at all complicated. The new candidates will be officially selected. At the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago from July 19 to 22.

However, the current plan for Democrats remains to nominate President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as running mates to lead the country again this year. His nomination was made just in time to meet the deadline to certify the results of the Ohio primary.

As for the National Conference, the candidates representing the party must receive the support of the majority. Among the delegates are party officials who officially select representatives to run for president. Before that, each candidate was allocated a certain number of voting representatives. According to the percentage obtained from the results of the primary elections in each state. This year, President Biden won nearly 99% of the nearly 4,000 Electoral College votes.

According to traditional rules at the Democratic National Convention. The votes for the aforementioned primaries are equal, however. Voting representatives pledged to continue supporting Biden. If Biden decides to withdraw midway, such a huge amount of votes could go to anyone in an instant. Because the voting delegation will be free to choose new candidates as they wish.

And so will the upcoming Democratic National Convention. It will be an open vote after Biden's replacement is named. Then the meeting will go to vote. Until there is a winner who gets the support of a majority of the voting delegation.

However, this situation will provoke fierce competition. Among those who aspire to be actors are running for president. So far, Biden has not given the slightest indication of this and is considering retiring from politics and withdrawing from the US leadership elections.

Lee Wright Reger, an American political historian, commented to the BBC that “if Biden withdraws from this election. “This will immediately create new problems and difficulties.”

I think if Biden is replaced, some terms of the negotiations will stipulate that he will have to make the final decision. “To choose our next presidential nominee,” Riker said.

Experts believe that the fact that Democrats will force Biden to withdraw despite his hesitation is highly unacceptable. This is a much rarer case than voluntary withdrawal. Because in the modern political history of the United States the country's major political party has never tried to overthrow him. Or remove their presidential nominee once and for all. There is also no evidence to confirm that any party had a serious plan regarding this issue. Until now

However, the rules governing the Democratic National Convention have some loopholes. Which, in theory, could take advantage of this weakness and push Biden to retreat from the political stage

The regulations state that “in good conscience, election representatives may act in ways that reflect the will of the people who voted for them, and the election delegation will be able to vote for the alternative candidate to Biden.”

“This is a situation that is full of conflict and fierce competition,” Ricker added. “It would be incredibly ugly and disgusting.”

Although some experts have told the BBC that there is unlikely to be a rebellion or civil disobedience among Democratic voters. But changes to the party's traditional rules could happen at any moment. Riker was referring to the 1968 event in which President Lyndon Johnson decided not to run for re-election as President of the United States.

Democrats at that time changed the voting process for the national conventions. From a free and open vote in which voting representatives could choose anyone. To a vote tied to the results of the primary. Voting representatives must vote only for the nominated candidates.

“The party committee can always change any voting rules regarding the selection of presidential candidates. Nothing is out of the realm of possibility,” Reeker concluded.

Although Biden withdrew midway from the US leadership election battle this time, conservative Democrats threatened to file a lawsuit. Claiming that replacing party representatives was illegal. The new representative may not be eligible to run for president of the United States.

If Biden suddenly resigns from the presidency, of course, Vice President Kamala Harris will immediately assume his duties and serve as the country's leader until the end of Biden's term in office.

However, this automatic override mechanism does not exist and will not exist. If Biden withdraws from the new presidential election to be held next November. There is also no mechanism to grant special privileges to the current vice president. If she is nominated to be chosen as the new representative of the party at the national convention where the vote is also open and free. And she must try to win a simple majority of the electoral college. Like any other candidate.

As a Democrat who is already running for vice president, Harris would face a disadvantage if she were to beat Biden in the presidential race, but her approval ratings are fading in the eyes of most Americans. That may not be helpful for this contest, as FiveThirtyEight.com polls show Harris’ approval ratings are lower than Biden’s and Trump’s.

A number of Democrats are posing challenges to Biden in this election, including Minnesota Senator Dean Phillips. and the famous writer Marianne Williamson, but both still lack sufficient status and influence within the party. Even considering that he is still far from the chance of becoming a finalist.

There were demands from some in the party. Support Gavin Newsom, the governor of California. Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, and Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania. Take the initiative to replace Biden and help Democrats recover from the 2024 elections.

But so far, none of the three have announced that they want to be a candidate to lead the country to replace the current president.

According to the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution, the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet are allowed to vote. Declaring the president’s inability to perform his duties as head of the country.

If this provision is implemented, all executive powers will transfer to the Vice President. Who will act as the new president, but this has never happened before in the history of the United States.

But after the end of the first battle of visions between Trump and Biden, there were calls from senior Republican representatives. The Cabinet is immediately considering implementing the provisions of amending Article (25) of the Constitution.

Previously, Democrats held the majority in Congress. The resolution was passed in 2021 after the riots at the US Capitol. Let former Vice President Mike Pence use the Constitutional Amendments. To remove Trump from office as president, but the move was unsuccessful.