Michelle Obama tops Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton and Gavin Newsom to replace Joe Biden, 81, if he drops out: New poll shows who Democrats want on the ticket and how likely they think he will NOT run

Michelle Obama has led Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton in a poll on who Democrats think could replace 81-year-old Joe Biden if he drops out.

The former first lady’s name has emerged as a potential dramatic late entry into the 2024 race, with growing questions about Biden’s age and eligibility for a second term.

The 60-year-old has said several times that she is not interested in running for office and has admitted that she is “terrified” about the outcome of this year’s election.

But she still hasn’t addressed recent theories that her name could be on the Democratic ticket if Biden were to drop out of the race.

The Rasmussen Reports survey shows that 47 percent of likely U.S. voters think it is likely that Democrats will replace Biden as the party’s presidential candidate, including 22 percent who consider this very likely — despite nearly all Democratic party leaders backing him for a second term.

There is speculation about who could potentially replace Biden if he were to drop out of the race before November.

It reached a fever pitch after special counsel Robert Hur’s report on Biden’s handling of classified documents was released earlier this month, describing the president as an older man with a poor memory.

Biden is running for a second term and has faced questions about his age and mental acuity

While nearly half of voters believe Biden will be replaced, more Republicans (66 percent) believe it is at least somewhat likely that Democrats will replace Biden with another candidate. Only 33 percent of Democrats and 43 percent of unaffiliated voters said the same.

However, there is little consensus among Democratic voters on who would be a better option to replace him if Biden decides to step aside.

20 percent of Democrats in the survey named former First Lady Michelle Obama as their favorite choice to replace Biden.

That was followed by 15 percent who favored Vice President Kamala Harris.

The former foreign minister finished in third place with 12 percent. 11 percent preferred California Governor Gavin Newsom, and nine percent thought Gretchen Whitmer was at the top of the list.

However, 27 percent said none of the Democrats listed in the survey would be better than Biden, and six percent of Democrats said they are not sure.

Earlier this year, Michelle Obama said in a podcast interview that she is “terrified” about the possible outcome of the 2024 election.

But while Obama has been a formidable campaigner for fellow Democrats and active in getting out the vote, she has previously denied any interest in seeking office herself.

Meanwhile, Harris has said she is “ready to serve” should the need arise, but has dismissed criticism of Biden and called the special counsel’s report politically motivated.

Newsom, who has fueled speculation about his own presidential ambitions, has also been a fierce advocate for Biden, dismissing concerns about his mental acuity and praising Biden’s performance on the campaign trail.

Clinton has said Biden’s age at 81 is a legitimate concern, but she has also actively helped raise funds for his re-election bid.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has also been an active surrogate for the Biden campaign and fundraising efforts.

In an interview over the weekend with CNN, Whitmer called on voters in her state to cast a “positive vote for President Biden,” amid an effort by Michigan progressives to give Democrats an “unfettered” vote in Tuesday’s election. primaries.

Biden launched his re-election bid last year. He has dismissed concerns about his ability to serve a second term and blasted the Hur report, saying his memory is fine.

Despite speculation about whether Biden will stay in the race, it has been 140 years since a political party denied the nomination for a second term to a sitting president who wanted it, and that was under very different circumstances.