Biden urged to drop Harris as running mate for 2024

With the 2024 presidential candidates set in stone and a clear rematch between Biden and Trump expected for November, analysts have turned to the other candidate: their vice president.

There has been much speculation about who Trump will run with, as his former VP, Mike Pence, won't even endorse him. However, things on Biden's side appears much more evident.

The president clearly stated that he expects to run with his 2020 mate again. According to Politico, in 2022, he said that he believed Kamala Harris was doing a good job and would choose her again.

However, Harris is not the obvious first choice for many analysts who believe that Biden should drop her as a running mate for 2024 in favor of someone who could rally more support.

According to Five-thirty-eight, Harris is even less favored than Joe Biden: she only has a 39.5 percent general approval rating. It is a little higher among Democrats, but it is still insufficient.

So political columnists from outlets like The Washington Post, New York Magazine, and independents have recommended Biden names to replace her.

New York Magazine Intelligencer columnist Eric Levitz and independent journalist Frank Barro have suggested Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Levitz also proposed Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock. Warnock was the state's first black senator, granting the Democrats a crucial win in Congress.

The analyst also suggested Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth for the VP position. Duckworth was the first disabled woman elected to Congress and is a fierce reproductive rights advocate.

Finally, Levitz named Illinois Representative Lauren Underwood to replace Harris on the ballot. Underwood represents a very divided district and still has granted Democrats crucial victories.

The running mates might have a more significant role in the 2024 election than in the past. According to AP News, most Americans don't want a Trump-Biden rematch. A good VP candidate might be decisive.

Washington Post columnist David Ignatius also warned that voters "would sensibly focus on his presumptive running mate" due to their concerns about Biden's age.

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Ignatius believes Biden should make a more open selection process and suggested some names: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

But he also knows that forcing Kamala Harris out is risky and could alienate black-female voters, a crucial demographic for Biden, leaving him more vulnerable.

Kamala Harris made history when she became VP, but she has failed to gain traction among voters or, as Ignatius pointed out, even inside her party in the last four years.

Harris has become a more prominent campaign presence. According to The New York Times, she has emerged as a leading defender of abortion rights, a potent campaign issue for her Democrats. But it might not be enough.