How would replacing Biden actually work? The answer is as murky as the president’s stance on his future

Joe Biden seemed to give mixed signals about the future of his presidential campaign after his poor performance at last Thursday’s debate. While the Biden campaign on Wednesday jumped to announce that it had outraised Donald Trump in June, pulling in $127m to his $118m, rumors were swirling about whether the president could effectively continue in the race.

Insiders told The Independent that they believe there is “no question” Vice President Kamala Harris would receive the baton if Biden chose not to run in November.

But a Biden campaign spokesperson, Seth Schuster, told The Independent that the president is “absolutely not dropping out.”

Harris would never openly knife her boss. But the possibility is clearly being discussed among some Democrats.

If Biden makes the decision to step aside, that’s only the first question answered. Democrats will then have to pick a new presidential nominee. And the logistics surrounding that are not simple.

The modern primary campaigning and nominating process began in earnest during John F Kennedy’s 1960 run for president. Prior to that, nominating a candidate bore more resemblance to proverbial smoke-filled rooms where party elders select the nominee away from the eyes and ears of the public.

That’s infeasible in this moment, particularly for a party that bills itself as a defender of democracy.

At the same time, Democrats would risk a battle royale if too many candidates emerge. Should Biden stand down, the process would have to be carefully handled to make sure this didn’t scupper the party’s chances against Donald Trump in November.

Enter James Zogby, a member of the Democratic National Committee who worked on Jesse Jackson’s campaigns and whom Bernie Sanders nominated to serve on