The ONLY story in politics right now is whether President Joe Biden will reevaluate his plan to seek a second term in the wake of his disastrous debate performance on Thursday night.
Obviously the key factor is whether or not Biden (and First Lady Jill Biden) believe he is up to the rigors of the next 4+ months of the campaign (and four more years in office if he wins the race).
But, do NOT underestimate how much a factor how Biden (and his inner circle) view Kamala Harris’ chances as the presidential nominee actually is.
I am convinced that one of the main reasons Biden ran again in 2024 is because he believed that a) if he didn’t run, Harris would be the very likely Democratic nominee and b) she can’t beat Donald Trump.
We can debate whether he’s right about “b” but I am sure he believed it then. Does he still? Because if Harris was the likeliest replacement nominee 8 months ago, her chances of winning the nomination — if Biden steps aside — are MUCH higher today.
I explain the Harris factor in today’s edition of The Morning. I hope you consider supporting my work by becoming a paid subscriber today. It’s just $6 a month or $60 for the year.
The Morning: The Kamala Harris question