Growing number of House Dems look to Kamala as possible Biden replacement

Nearly a week aft President Biden's disastrous performance successful a statesmanlike debate, aggregate existent and erstwhile House Democrats are signaling they would backmost Vice President Kamala Harris arsenic his successor if the 81-year-old person chooses to measurement aside.

Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., a subordinate of the House's progressive "Squad," joined vigor amusement "Mornings with Zerlina" Wednesday, informing Democrats — and likely, by extension, President Biden — they are moving retired of clip to determine whether to alteration course.

"If our president decides this is not a pathway guardant for him, we person to determination precise quickly. There’s not going to beryllium clip for a primary. That clip is past," Lee said. "The vice president is the evident choice. She’s sitting close there."

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Vice President Kamala Harris is seen arsenic a apt successor if President Biden steps aside. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Lee besides warned of the governmental ramifications of side-stepping Harris portion pointing retired the precocious elector turnout rates among Black women.

"We’re truthful willingly going to propulsion speech an full demographic, and I deliberation that it would beryllium precise unsafe to bash that, personally," she warned.

It comes conscionable a time aft Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., a longtime Biden state whose enactment was captious to Biden clinching the 2020 Democratic statesmanlike nomination, stopped abbreviated of airing concerns astir the president's viability. He added, however, that helium would enactment Harris arsenic the nominee if Biden did driblet out.

"I privation this summons to proceed to beryllium Biden-Harris," Clyburn said connected "MSNBC Reports." "This enactment should not, successful immoderate way, bash thing to enactment astir Ms. Harris. We should bash everything we tin to bolster her whether she's successful 2nd spot oregon astatine the apical of the ticket."

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Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., argued successful favour of Harris Wednesday. (Getty Images)

Former Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who challenged Biden for the 2020 statesmanlike nomination, besides wrote an op-ed successful Newsweek, "Kamala Harris Should Be the Democratic Nominee for President successful 2024."

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answered speculation astir Harris Wednesday by insisting Biden would not driblet retired and declined to get into details astir their one-on-one luncheon earlier successful the day.

"One of the reasons wherefore helium picked the vice president … is due to the fact that she is so the aboriginal of the party. And he's precise arrogant to person partnered with her and proceed to spouse with her and delivering an unprecedented grounds for the American people," Jean-Pierre said.

Questions astir Biden's carnal and intelligence information were brought to the forefront during past Thursday's statement successful Atlanta. 

The dam broke connected Tuesday afternoon erstwhile Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, became the archetypal sitting House Democrat to telephone for Biden to propulsion retired of the race.

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Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., besides said Harris should beryllium Biden's successor.  (Brian Stukes/Getty Images)

Hours later, Reps. Jared Golden, D-Maine, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., 2 of the astir susceptible Democrats this predetermination cycle, came retired and said Biden would apt suffer to Trump.

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"He is perfectly not dropping out," a Biden run spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

If helium did, however, Harris' supporters person pointed retired she would inherit the monolithic $240 cardinal Biden-Harris run warfare chest.

Other names who person been floated arsenic imaginable replacements for Biden are California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, among others.