President Joe Biden claimed that "probably 50" Democrats could beat former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, but Democrat operatives say Biden might be the only hope, even if polls are suggesting Trump beats him.
"If it isn't Biden, we lose," a Democrat operative told the Washington Examiner. "It's just flat-out too late to jump ship, simple as that."
With Trump leading the polls, Biden's approval sinking to all-time lows, and American sentiment done with the sitting regime, seeing Biden bow out for another Democrat might be wishful thinking operatives say.
"It's an interesting thought experiment, and one that very possibly previews our party heading into 2028, but this just isn't going to happen," another Democrat operative told the Examiner. "President Biden will be our nominee, and I expect the full party, regardless of disagreements about Israel, to rally around him to defeat Trump."
If Democrats do not get on board with the incumbent Biden, Trump is going to win again — just as he did in 2016 against Hillary Clinton — Democrats told the Examiner.
"Biden will be the nominee because we've seen this story before," a third Democrat operative told the Examiner. "We saw what happened in 2016 when some people weren't jazzed about Secretary Clinton, and that let Trump walk in the front door of the White House.
"We won't make that mistake again."
Still, the Examiner suggested there are "10" Democrats who can step in for Biden against Trump, writing in its headline: "Fifty? Barely 10 Democrats could conceivably beat Trump in 2024."
The list includes Vice President Kamala Harris; Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn.; Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif.; California Gov. Gavin Newsom; Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker; and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Mich., according to the Examiner.
"All of these candidates, save Phillips, who is opposing Biden in the Democratic primary, are backing Biden's 2024 run but have some type of infrastructure that could make them attractive to unpledged delegates at the convention," according to the Examiner.
Republican operatives are apt to fear none of those on the list, suggesting Michelle Obama and the Obama machine might be the only way to beat Trump, according to the Examiner, but she has dismissed that talk.
"There is zero chance," Michelle Obama said in 2020. "There are many ways to improve this country and build a better world, and I continue to do many of them, from working with young people to helping families lead healthier lives.
"But sitting behind the Oval Office desk will never be one of them. It's not for me."
The RealClear Politics polling average has Trump up 2.3 points up on Biden, putting the fear in Democrats. There are a few candidates positioned to pick up the pieces for Biden, according to the report:
- Booker, who has $10 million in cash from his failed 2020 campaign.
- Khanna, who "has the strongest progressive bona fides."
- Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., would be a youthful progressive option.