INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Vice President Kamala Harris is the top alternative to replace United States President Joe Biden if he decides not to continue his
reelection campaign, according to seven senior sources at the Biden campaign, the White House and the Democratic National Committee with
Republican rival Donald Trump last week set off a wave of panic within the Democratic party over concerns that he may not be fit enough to
serve a second term, and prompted calls for top aides to resign.Some influential Democrats have floated alternatives to Biden besides
Harris, including popular cabinet members and Democratic governors like Gavin Newsom from California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Josh
But trying to sidestep Harris is wishful thinking and would be nearly impossible, these sources, who did not wish to be named, said.If named
as the party nominee, Harris, 59, would take over money raised by the Biden campaign and inherit campaign infrastructure, the sources said
She also has the highest name recognition among all the alternatives, and the highest polling among Democrats who could seriously be
considered a candidate, the sources said.In a Reuters/Ipsos poll published Tuesday, Harris trailed Trump by one percentage point at 42% to
addition, she has already been vetted for national office and has survived intense scrutiny from Republicans, they said
include both Biden and Harris
lot of the speculation since the debate because some influential Democrats have little faith she can beat Trump, four of the sources
said.The United States has never elected a woman president, and Harris has spent much of her time as vice president struggling to
distinguish herself in a role that is by definition a supporting one
As recently as last year, many inside the White House and the Biden campaign privately worried she was a liability for the campaign.Since
then, Harris has managed to find her stride on the issue of abortion rights but her polling has not improved significantly
similar odds of beating Trump.The vice president has also been consistently targeted by Republicans and conservative media in attacks many
allies consider sexist and racist.Three Democratic donors, who have recently been pushing for Biden to step aside, also said this week they
scripted speech in North Carolina even as calls for him to step aside grow.Stephanie Cutter, deputy campaign manager for former President
