Joe Biden has declared that, barring divine intervention, he will remain in the presidential race to face Donald Trump in November. However, two prominent Democrats are proposing an alternative strategy to rejuvenate the party’s prospects—one involving pop superstar Taylor Swift and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Georgetown law professor Rosa Brooks, who has experience in the Clinton and Obama administrations and was a volunteer policy adviser for Biden’s 2020 campaign, along with venture capitalist and Democratic donor Ted Dintersmith, have circulated a memo outlining a bold plan. According to Semafor, the memo suggests the following steps:
Biden steps down as the nominee within the next week or so and, with the endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, initiates a “blitz primary.”
Potential candidates declare their intent to run, leading to a “primary sprint” where the top six candidates, determined by delegate votes, pledge to conduct positive-only campaigns in the lead-up to the convention.
Weekly appearances by cultural icons such as Swift, Obama, and Oprah Winfrey to energize voters and engage with the candidates.
Nominee announcement during the Democratic National Convention: Delegates use ranked-choice voting to select the nominee, followed by a joint appearance onstage by Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton.
This ambitious proposal faces several significant challenges. Biden remains steadfast in his determination to stay in the race, as evidenced by his recent comments in Wisconsin, where he affirmed, “I’m not letting one 90-minute debate wipe out three and a half years of work. I’m staying in the race, and I will beat Donald Trump.” Moreover, the plan does not automatically elevate Harris to the nominee position, potentially alienating key party constituencies. Additionally, the notion of a competitive race adhering to a “positive-only” campaign rule seems implausible. It’s also uncertain whether Swift or Obama would agree to participate in such a campaign; neither has publicly commented on the idea.
Meanwhile, concerns about Biden’s health persist. The New York Times recently reported that an expert on Parkinson’s disease from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House multiple times over eight months, including meetings with Biden’s physician. While the White House emphasized the routine nature of these visits, Biden’s annual physical in February revealed no signs of Parkinson’s or other neurological disorders.
As the election approaches, Democrats are exploring every avenue to secure a victory, but whether this unconventional strategy gains traction remains to be seen.