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Who could replace Biden? A look at Kamala Harris, other Front-runners

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Biden drops out of 2024 presidential race

President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race on Sunday. This comes as Democrats called for Biden to withdraw.

With President Joe Biden ending his bid for reelection, there’s widespread speculation over who will replace him at the top of the ticket.

Biden, who announced his exit from the race Sunday in a post on social media, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee in a separate post on X (formerly Twitter). But his endorsement doesn’t automatically make her the Democratic Party’s nominee for president in the 2024 election.

Here’s a look at who else could replace Biden as the nominee:

Vice President Kamala Harris

President Joe Biden endorses Kamala Harris after dropping out of 2024 presidential race

With President Joe Biden ending his reelection bid and endorsing Kamala Harris as the nominee, citing the best interests of the party and the country, Harris has become the likely candidate to replace him, while Biden will remain in office until January 20, 2025.

Kamala Harris is the most likely successor, given her role as vice president and her extensive political background, including her tenure as a U.S. Senator and California’s Attorney General. Despite her historic achievements, she faces challenges due to her polling numbers and previous presidential campaign performance. It is important to note that Harris, despite being Biden’s running mate, cannot automatically assume the top of the ticket if Biden steps down. Biden cannot simply decree that she replace him.

If Biden chooses to abandon his reelection campaign, Harris would join other top Democratic candidates vying for the nomination. This scenario would require her and others to lobby individual state delegations at the convention for their support, according to the AP.

California Governor Gavin Newsom

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, is seen as a strong candidate due to his progressive policies and national visibility. His handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent policy initiatives have kept him in the national spotlight.

Newsom said on Sunday that Biden “will go down in history as one of the most impactful and selfless presidents.”

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Gretchen Whitmer has gained national attention for her handling of the COVID-19 crisis and her strong stance on issues like reproductive rights and infrastructure. Her leadership in a key swing state adds to her appeal as a potential candidate.

She said Sunday Biden “is a great public servant who knows better than anyone what it takes to defeat Donald Trump,” and that her role in this election would be to “do everything I can to elect Democrats and stop Donald Trump.”

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and current secretary of transportation, remains a notable figure within the Democratic Party. His successful 2020 presidential campaign and his work in the Biden administration position him as a potential candidate.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker

J.B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, has been a prominent advocate for progressive policies on healthcare, labor rights, and climate change. His leadership and substantial personal wealth could make him a formidable candidate.

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker

Cory Booker, a U.S. senator from New Jersey, has consistently been a strong voice on criminal justice reform, economic equality, and healthcare. His experience and national recognition could help him rally support within the party.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar’s moderate stance and strong performance in the 2020 Democratic primaries have kept her in the conversation as a potential candidate. Her focus on bipartisan solutions and effective governance could appeal to a broad spectrum of voters.

According to a report by the New York Times, President Biden is ‘considering’ whether he can continue as the Democratic presidential nominee. The Times reported a ‘key ally’ said Biden knows he may not be able to win re-election if he cannot convince Americans he is still fit to serve. White House spokesman Andrew Bates disputed the report by stating, ‘That claim is absolutely false. If the New York Times had provided us with more than 7 minutes to comment, we would have told them so.’

Can Biden even be replaced?

It would be nearly impossible for Democrats to replace Biden due to several key factors. Every state has already held its presidential primary. Democratic rules mandate that the delegates Biden won remain bound to support him at the party’s upcoming national convention unless he tells them he’s leaving the race, according to the AP.

The conventions and their rules are controlled by the political parties. The Democratic National Committee could meet before the convention opens on Aug. 19 and change how things will work, but that isn’t likely as long as Biden wants to continue seeking reelection.

While the Democratic National Committee could technically change these rules before the convention, such a move is unlikely as long as Biden continues his reelection campaign.

Will anyone challenge Harris?

Even before Biden announced his decision to endorse Harris some Democrats argued publicly, and many privately, that it would be a no-brainer to elevate the first woman, first Black woman and first person of south Asian descent to hold national office.

Given how important Black voters – and Black women especially – were to Biden’s nomination and his choice of Harris as running mate, it would be risky, to say the least, for Democrats to pass her over for a white nominee.

Democrats already faced historical headwinds before Biden’s withdrawal. Newsom and Whitmer, both of whom are white, and any other Democrat would also have to weigh the short-term and long-term benefits of challenging Harris now versus preserving goodwill for a future presidential primary.

Yet, fair or not, Harris also has not been viewed as an especially beloved or empowered vice president. The best scenario for her and Democrats is to quickly shore up support and project a united front. Democrats could even go forward with their plans for an early virtual vote – a move they’d planned to make sure Biden was selected ahead of Ohio’s general election ballot deadline.

Could Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump?

A recent national poll indicates that three-quarters of voters say the Democratic Party would have a better chance of keeping the White House with someone else other than President Biden at the top of the party’s ticket.

And the survey, released by CNN, suggests that Vice President Kamala Harris performs slightly better than Biden in a matchup with former President Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee.

The new poll was conducted entirely after Biden’s extremely rough performance during last Thursday’s face-to-face showdown between the two major party contenders.

Another national NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that Biden and Trump remain statistically tied, even in the aftermath of the widely panned debate. However, Harris narrowly led Trump 50% to 49%, in another statistical tie.

(The Associated Press and Daniel Miller contributed to this story. )

 

 

 

 

 

 

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International

Some Top Republicans Secretly Pray for Kamala Harris Massive Win

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By Dan Ladden-Hall

It seems it’s not just Democrats who are hoping that Donald Trump will be dealt a devastating defeat in November.

Several notable Republican figures also want the former president to lose to Kamala Harris but aren’t saying so publicly, according to Politico. Some GOP lawmakers see the possibility of a new Trump term as bad news for the party, the outlet reports.

Among those concerned are proponents of free market economic policies who are concerned by Trump’s proposed import tariffs, while abortion rights opponents are also skeptical of his inconsistent messaging on that issue, according to Politico.

They’re also reportedly concerned that Trump winning in 2024 could hurt the GOP’s electoral chances in the future.

“There’s a lot of anxiety about what Trump does to Republican ability to win in 2028—and what he also may do to the party in terms of policy long term,” one anonymous conservative leader told Politico. “There is just this concern that like, ‘OK, if the party just goes in that direction, then what kind of party is it going forward? And can conservatives, then, have a home going forward?’”

The outlet also claims concerned Republicans hope Trump’s loss is by a wide margin in order to help stifle any attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of his hypothetical defeat.

In a separate column, Politico’s columnist Jonathan Martin claimed the best outcome for the future of the Republican Party is for Trump to “lose soundly” in November.

“For most Republicans who’ve not converted to the Church of MAGA, this scenario is barely even provocative,” Martin writes. “In fact, asking around with Republicans last week, the most fervent private debate I came across in the party was how best to accelerate Trump’s exit to the 19th Hole.”

In a statement, Trump spokesperson Brian Hughes told the outlet that Trump has “unified the GOP like never before” and “expanded his coalition of support across partisan lines to Democrats and Independents.”

“Our campaign and down-ballot Republicans are poised for a great result in November, despite a few hand-wringing, anonymous sources who are not bold enough to attach their names to this drivel,” Hughes added.

* Reuters

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International

Canada Ends Visitor-to-work Permit Policy

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The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has ended a temporary public policy that allowed visitors to apply for a work permit from within Canada.

The IRCC introduced the policy in August 2020 to help visitors who were unable to leave the country due to COVID-19 pandemic–related travel restrictions.

Under the policy, visitors in Canada could apply for a work permit without having to leave the country.

In addition, foreign nationals who had held a work permit in the previous 12 months but changed their status in Canada to “visitor” could apply to work legally in Canada while waiting for a decision on their new work permit application.

“While the temporary policy was set to expire on February 28, 2025, the IRCC is ending the policy as part of our overall efforts to recalibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada and preserve the integrity of the immigration system,” the Canadian government said in a statement published on its website on Wednesday.

The IRCC was also aware that “some bad actors were using the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without authorisation.”

It however noted that it would continue to process applications submitted before August 28, 2024, under the policy.

The development is likely to have a huge impact on intending migrants including Nigerians who might want to explore the avenue to seek a stay in the country.

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The development is also coming amid tensions that heightened earlier this week when tens of thousands of international students took to the streets across Canada to protest new immigration policies introduced by the government that could see about 70,000 of them deported.

Canada is a destination for many Nigerians seeking greener pastures and education, especially in the wave of ‘Japa’ that has hit the country. (Punch)

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International

Abuse of Visa Laws: Nigerian Immigration Deports Zimbabwean Bishop

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Comptroller-General, NIS, Kemi Nandap

By Sule Musa

After discovering he misused his tourist visa and breached immigration protocols, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on August 24, 2024, repatriated Zimbabwean Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatawi for a violation of immigration laws. NIS apprehended Nhiwatawi in Yola, Adamawa State.

He entered Nigeria on August 21, 2024, using a Tourist Visa (F5A), strictly meant for tourism activities. However, authorities discovered him participating in the Methodist Church leadership election, which violated the visa terms under the Nigeria Visa Policy 2024. Read Also: NIS Suspends Mendicant Officer as FAAN Urges Reporting Misconduct

Following the infraction, the Comptroller General of NIS, with ministerial approval, immediately ordered his repatriation. The NIS emphasized that while it encourages lawful entry for investment and business activities, it will not tolerate any violation of immigration laws.

“The Service encourages lawful FDIs and business activities, recognizing their role in economic growth and development. However, it will not tolerate violations of immigration laws”, the statement signed by DCI Kenneth Udo, Service Public Relations Officer, stressed.

The NIS reiterated its commitment to safeguarding national security by closely monitoring the activities of foreign nationals.

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