WASHINGTON: The Democratic Party announced plans on Wednesday for an expedited virtual nomination for President Joe Biden in early August, despite opposition from some lawmakers who believe he should step aside.
This decision comes as a new poll revealed nearly two-thirds of Democrats prefer Biden to withdraw following a lackluster performance in a recent debate against Donald Trump, raising concerns about his suitability for re-election.
The Democratic National Convention’s (DNC) rules committee will convene on Friday to discuss the virtual nomination process, which will not commence before August 1, according to a letter to members obtained by AFP. Initial reports suggested the process could begin as early as next week, but party leaders clarified they would not implement a rushed voting procedure.
Party officials argue that the virtual nomination must be completed by August 7 to meet the nomination submission deadline set by the Republican-led state of Ohio. The Democratic convention, where Biden was expected to be formally nominated, starts on August 19, creating a timing conflict that could have excluded Biden from the Ohio ballot.
Although Ohio’s governor signed a law granting more time for Biden’s nomination, the law does not take effect until September, leaving the process uncertain. “I don’t trust them in Ohio to do this,” said Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz, co-chair of the DNC’s rules committee, during a Wednesday news conference. Ohio is the home state of Trump’s new running mate, J.D. Vance.
The Biden campaign’s deputy manager, Quentin Fulks, urged the media to avoid being “caught up in process stories” and instead focus on Republican misinformation campaigns. However, the virtual nomination plan has sparked anger among some Democrats, with several lawmakers planning to sign a letter opposing the move, according to US media.
Approximately 20 House Democrats have publicly called for Biden to step aside. The discord resurfaced following a temporary pause after an assassination attempt against Trump. The Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released Wednesday indicated that 65 percent of Democrats want Biden to pull out of the race.
Critics argue that the accelerated virtual nomination process undermines democratic principles by bypassing the party’s convention in Chicago, where delegates were originally set to formally nominate the candidate starting August 19. They contend that this approach denies thorough consideration and debate over the best path forward for the party.
