Washington, DC \u2013<\/strong> The political storm unleashed by final week\u2019s presidential debate in the USA continues to be raging regardless of the White Home\u2019s assurances that President Joe Biden is not quitting the race<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 81-year-old president\u2019s disastrous performance<\/a> towards his predecessor Donald Trump has fuelled questions on his viability as a candidate, if not his health for workplace. In the course of the debate, observers famous Biden commonly misplaced his prepare of thought and appeared exhausted or confused.<\/p>\n That has spurred stress for Biden to drop out and make room for a distinct candidate to signify the Democratic Social gathering, because the presidential election approaches in November.<\/p>\n A lot of Biden\u2019s potential replacements, nonetheless, have voiced help for him, however that has finished little to quiet hypothesis in regards to the president\u2019s future.<\/p>\n Earlier than the controversy, Biden confronted rising discontent amongst giant segments of the Democratic base over his \u201cironclad\u201d help for Israel\u2019s battle in Gaza, which has killed greater than 38,000 Palestinians and sparked accusations of genocide.<\/p>\n So if a brand new Democratic candidate is nominated, repairing the fractures the battle has triggered within the get together could also be a high precedence: Key demographics together with younger voters, progressives, Arabs and Muslims have all signalled discontent over the Gaza battle.<\/p>\n Right here, Al Jazeera appears to be like at what Biden\u2019s potential options have stated in regards to the battle.<\/p>\n Ought to Biden drop out, Harris could be the frontrunner to switch him on the high of the Democratic ticket.<\/p>\n A former senator representing California, Harris is the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020.<\/p>\n As vice chairman, Harris represents the Biden administration, which has unflinchingly supported the battle on Gaza. Nonetheless, she was one of many first senior administration officers to make use of the phrase \u201cceasefire\u201d whereas calling for a truce<\/a> in Gaza.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the immense scale of struggling in Gaza, there have to be an instantaneous ceasefire for at the very least the subsequent six weeks,\u201d Harris said in March<\/a>.<\/p>\n Round that point, NBC News<\/a> \u2014 citing nameless officers \u2014 reported that Harris would have taken a extra forceful stance towards the battle if given the possibility by the White Home.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is Biden\u2019s battle. That is Biden\u2019s failure,\u201d one supply stated. \u201cI believe she would have requested for a ceasefire a very long time in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n Publicly, Harris has careworn that she is in full alignment with Biden.<\/p>\n The vice chairman has been a fervent backer of Israel all through her political profession. In 2017, the primary measure she co-sponsored as a senator was to sentence a United Nations Safety Council decision that denounced<\/a> Israel\u2019s unlawful settlements within the occupied West Financial institution.<\/p>\n Later that 12 months, she instructed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) that she has a deep connection to Israel.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving grown up within the [San Francisco] Bay Space, I fondly bear in mind these Jewish Nationwide Fund packing containers that we’d use to gather donations to plant timber for Israel,\u201d Harris instructed an AIPAC convention.<\/p>\n Virtually instantly after final week\u2019s debate, commentators began floating the identify of Whitmer as a doable alternative for Biden.<\/p>\n A well-liked politician from a key swing state, Whitmer gained nationwide prominence in 2020 when she clashed with<\/a> then-President Trump over COVID-19 pandemic insurance policies. She cruised to re-election two years later.<\/p>\n As governor, Whitmer hardly ever offers with overseas coverage. However she has voiced help for Israel on a number of events.<\/p>\n \u201cWe right here in Michigan condemn this vile act of terrorism,\u201d she stated throughout an occasion at a synagogue days after Hamas\u2019s October 7 assault in Israel. \u201cWe stand with Israel. And Israel has a proper to defend itself.\u201d<\/p>\n The gathering noticed Michigan elected officers maintain arms as they sang and danced in help of Israel \u2014 a gesture that many within the state\u2019s giant Arab community<\/a> discovered offensive.<\/p>\n In current months, Whitmer has additionally expressed sympathy for the lack of life in Gaza, however she declined to say whether or not the spiralling loss of life toll amongst Palestinians would quantity to a genocide.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m not going to weigh in the place I do know that lots of these phrases are used to inflame and divide us,\u201d she instructed NBC Information earlier this 12 months.<\/p>\n In April, Whitmer was requested by CNN whether or not she helps a everlasting ceasefire in Gaza; she skirted the query.<\/p>\n \u201cI consider that the hostages must be launched and that the violence must cease, and we have to actually speak about rebuilding Gaza and supporting the Palestinians,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n Whereas campaigning for governor in 2018, Whitmer stated she \u201cstrongly\u201d helps a Michigan regulation that penalises corporations that boycott Israel<\/a>.<\/p>\n Since beating a recall effort<\/a> in 2021, Newsom has been seen as a rising star in Democratic politics.<\/p>\n A vocal defender of the Biden agenda, the previous San Francisco mayor has acted as a surrogate for the president\u2019s marketing campaign, making appearances within the media and eventually week\u2019s debate.<\/p>\n Like different US officers, Newsom strongly condemned the October 7 assault and travelled to Israel final 12 months, the place he expressed uncompromising help for the nation.<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless of the horror, what I noticed and heard from the folks of Israel was a profound sense of resilience. A dedication to neighborhood and customary function, particularly in these most troublesome of occasions,\u201d he stated in a statement<\/a> after his journey on October 20. \u201cThat\u2019s the Israeli spirit. And it\u2019s additionally the California spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n Israel had killed almost 4,400 Palestinians in Gaza by then \u2014 about 4 occasions the variety of Israelis killed by Hamas on October 7.<\/p>\n In March, Newsom known as for a ceasefire in Gaza in a letter addressed to California\u2019s Muslim, Arab and Palestinian communities.<\/p>\n \u201cI condemn the continued and horrific lack of harmless civilian life<\/a> in Gaza,\u201d he stated at the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cI help President Biden\u2019s name for an instantaneous ceasefire as a part of a deal to safe desperately wanted reduction for Gazan civilians and the discharge of hostages. I additionally unequivocally denounce Hamas\u2019s terrorist assault towards Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n Whereas he might not have the nationwide identify recognition that his fellow governors Newsom and Whitmer get pleasure from, Shapiro is taken into account one of many high candidates to doubtlessly change Biden.<\/p>\n The governor, who beforehand served as Pennsylvania\u2019s lawyer basic, comfortably received his election within the Mid-Atlantic swing state in 2022. Since taking workplace, he has had constructive approval rankings.<\/p>\n On the subject of the battle in Gaza, Shapiro has been a staunch supporter of Israel.<\/p>\n \u201cThe whataboutism utilized by some to justify Hamas\u2019s unprovoked actions is ignorant and improper,\u201d he stated final 12 months. \u201cThere is no such thing as a ethical equivalency right here. Israel has a proper to defend itself.\u201d<\/p>\n Shapiro has additionally been outspoken in denouncing what he describes as anti-Semitism by protesters who oppose the battle in Gaza.<\/p>\n In April, he likened pro-Palestinian student protesters<\/a> to the Ku Klux Klan. The campus protests, nonetheless, have been largely peaceable, and scholar leaders say accusations of anti-Semitism misrepresent their goal: to encourage their universities to divest from Israeli corporations linked to the nation\u2019s human rights abuses.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have now to question whether or not or not we’d tolerate this if this have been folks dressed up in KKK outfits or KKK regalia making feedback about people who find themselves African American in our communities,\u201d Shapiro instructed CNN.<\/p>\n Buttigieg mounted an unlikely presidential marketing campaign in 2020 regardless of his skinny resume, having solely served because the mayor of a faculty city in Indiana. However, he carried out properly within the early primaries earlier than dropping out and endorsing Biden.<\/p>\n In 2021, he turned the primary overtly homosexual cupboard secretary after the US Senate confirmed him to guide the Division of Transportation. However he has confronted criticism over his response to a number of crises: There have been mass delays<\/a> in civilian aviation, in addition to a 2023 prepare derailment that triggered a chemical spill in Ohio<\/a>.<\/p>\n However liberal commentators describe him as an efficient communicator who can push again towards Republican arguments.<\/p>\n In a uncommon touch upon the Gaza battle earlier this 12 months, Buttigieg instructed that he understands why many individuals voted \u201cuncommitted\u201d within the Michigan Democratic primaries<\/a> to protest Biden\u2019s help for the battle.<\/p>\n \u201cTo start with, I get it, and no person can have a look at what is occurring there and really feel good,\u201d he instructed the Pod Save America podcast in February.<\/p>\n \u201cThe opposite factor I\u2019ll say is that, proper now, negotiations are below approach to ensure that two issues occur: an finish to the killing and the return of the hostages.\u201d<\/p>\n Throughout his presidential run, Buttigieg expressed help for Israel.<\/p>\n In 2019, he additionally stated the US shouldn’t \u201cfoot the invoice\u201d for the possible annexation<\/a> of the occupied West Financial institution by Israel.<\/p>\n However months later, he appeared to vary his place. Requested whether or not he would pledge to position circumstances on assist to Israel to forestall annexation, he stated: \u201cWhen you\u2019re asking me to decide to withdrawing American help for Israel, the reply isn’t any.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\nVice President Kamala Harris<\/h2>\n
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer<\/h2>\n
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California Governor Gavin Newsom<\/h2>\n
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro<\/h2>\n
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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg<\/h2>\n
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