NEWSWEEK
Governors Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer have both reportedly ruled themselves out of being Vice President Kamala Harris‘ running mate, should she replace President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket.
Reports have suggested Biden, who is self-isolating with COVID, could soon announce that he is dropping out of the presidential race.
The president has faced mounting pressure to bow out following his debate debacle last month, which magnified concerns about his age and ability to beat former president Donald Trump, who narrowly survived an assassination attempt at the weekend.
More than two dozen congressional Democrats have urged the president to step aside. Biden has repeatedly insisted he will not drop out and decisions about the future of his candidacy remain his alone.
Since the debate, Harris has been viewed as the most likely candidate to replace Biden as the party’s presidential nominee. She has remained among Biden’s most loyal defenders in the wake of the June 27 debate.
Amid speculation that Biden could soon leave the race, talk among Democratic strategists has reportedly turned to who could join Harris on the Democratic ticket.
The shortlist includes Sen. Mark Kelly, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, The Hill reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.
But California Governor Newsom and Michigan counterpart Whitmer—who were both floated as possible replacements for Biden on the ticket—have told party leaders they would not be interested in being Harris’ No2, according to The Hill.
Newsom and Whitmer’s offices have been contacted for comment via email.
The Biden campaign has continued to deny that the president will drop his reelection bid.
“The President is his party’s nominee, having won 14 million votes during the Democratic primary,” a campaign spokesperson told The Washington Post on Thursday. “He’s running for reelection, and that will not change until he wins reelection.” The campaign has been contacted for further comment via email.
In an interview that aired Wednesday, Biden said he would consider ending his reelection campaign if a doctor said he had “some medical condition” that would be considered a “problem.” Later on Wednesday, he canceled a campaign appearance in Las Vegas after testing positive for COVID-19.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s physician, said in a note on Thursday that Biden “is still experiencing mild upper respiratory symptoms” and continues to receive the antiviral drug Paxlovid.
“He does not have a fever and his vital signs remain normal,” O’Connor said. “He will continue to conduct the business of the American people.”
