The Biden campaign is quietly evaluating Vice President Kamala Harris’s viability as a potential Democratic nominee against Donald Trump, according to sources familiar with the situation.
This internal assessment comes in the wake of a shocking incident where former President Trump was injured in an apparent assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
On Saturday, Trump was taken to a local medical facility after being shot in the upper part of his right ear.
The Trump campaign assured the public that he is “fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility.”
The US Secret Service confirmed that the shooter, who fired from an elevated position outside the rally venue, was neutralized and is now deceased. Unfortunately, the incident also resulted in the death of a rally attendee and left another gravely injured.
The political community swiftly condemned the attack. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stated:
“Violence has no place in our politics,” while former Speaker Nancy Pelosi emphasized, “Political violence of any kind has no place in our society.” The FBI has taken over the investigation.
In parallel, the Biden campaign’s polling aims to compare Harris’s performance to Biden’s current standings amid growing concerns within the Democratic party about Biden’s viability.
Insiders indicate that some key allies now view Biden’s chances of securing the Democratic nomination as slim, citing issues such as cognitive abilities, fundraising challenges, and declining support.
Despite these concerns, Biden’s campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon and manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez maintain optimism.
They assert that the race remains close in key battleground states, stating that much of the movement in polling has been undecided voters rather than a decisive shift to Trump.
However, the new poll and others have prompted discussions within the party about whether Harris might be better positioned to face Trump. Some Democrats believe that defeating Trump should take precedence over supporting Biden.
Recent polls, such as an AARP survey showing Biden trailing in Wisconsin, have heightened these concerns.
The assassination attempt on Trump has only intensified the already charged political atmosphere.
US Congressman Mike Collins made inflammatory allegations against President Biden, though there is no evidence connecting Biden to the shooting.
This developing story highlights both the ongoing security risks for political figures and the internal challenges within the Democratic party as they strategize for the upcoming election.
