Clyburn Backs Harris for President if Biden Bows Out

Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., has declared his support for Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee if President Biden withdraws from the race. Clyburn, a longtime Biden ally, said he hopes the party will rally behind Harris if she becomes the nominee. However, he also expressed concerns about Harris's low poll numbers and said he believes Biden should remain the party's nominee.

Rep. James Clyburn, a key ally of President Biden, has declared his support for Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee if Biden decides to step down from the race. Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat who is known for his power in the Democratic Party, said he hopes the party will rally behind Harris but also expressed concerns about her low poll numbers.

"I will support her, if he were to step aside," Clyburn said in an interview with MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell. "But I'm going to support her going forward and sometime in the future. I want this ticket to continue to be Biden-Harris. And then we will see what happens after the next election."

Clyburn Backs Harris for President if Biden Bows Out

Clyburn's comments come as Biden faces increasing pressure to drop out of the race after a widely criticized debate performance last week. Some Democratic voters, officials, and media members have called for Harris or another candidate to replace Biden as the party's nominee.

Mitchell asked Clyburn specifically about Harris replacing Biden at the top of the ticket, and he said he would support her if Biden were to step down. However, he also said he believes the party should not "work around" Harris and should instead support her as the nominee.

Clyburn Backs Harris for President if Biden Bows Out

"No. This party should not, in any way, do anything to work around Ms. Harris," he declared.

Clyburn's comments reflect the difficulty Biden faces in trying to win a second term. He has faced criticism for his handling of the economy, the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. His low approval ratings and weak debate performances have also raised concerns about his ability to win a general election against a Republican challenger.

Despite the challenges, Clyburn said he believes Biden should remain the party's nominee. He said he has heard from voters in Wisconsin who are "dug in" on Biden and are eager to support him in the 2024 election.

"Joe Biden may decide otherwise. But I think the people that I have been around the last three days are dug in in their support for Joe Biden," Clyburn said.

It remains to be seen whether Biden will decide to run for a second term. He has said he intends to run but has also said he will make a final decision after the midterm elections. If Biden does decide to step down, Harris would be the likely Democratic nominee. However, her low poll numbers and ongoing questions about her electability could make it difficult for her to win the general election.