Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) recently suggested having former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton vet candidates to replace President Biden on the Democratic ticket, should he step down from the race. The congresswoman has already called for the 81-year-old president to drop out, but acknowledges that quick steps would need to be taken by the Democratic Party to find a new candidate if Biden were to do so.
Lofgren believes that involving former presidents in the vetting process could prove beneficial in narrowing down potential candidates, and potentially result in a stronger candidate than if the selection process was less transparent. She has expressed support for Vice President Kamala Harris as a top contender should the need arise to replace Biden on the ticket.
In a letter sent to President Biden, Lofgren expressed her concerns about his current candidacy and urged him to step aside in order to give another Democratic candidate a better chance at defeating Donald Trump in the November election. Rep. Lofgren is one of more than 30 House Democrats who have publicly called for Biden to end his re-election efforts.
While there has been no indication from President Biden that he plans to drop out of the race, Lofgren’s proposal highlights the need for the Democratic Party to be prepared for any potential changes in their presidential ticket. By involving former presidents in the vetting process, the party could potentially identify a strong candidate capable of rallying support and winning crucial House and Senate races down ballot.
