Why Kamala Harris would be Biden’s likeliest replacement

WASHINGTON—Vice President Kamala Harris is under a fresh spotlight as Democrats buzz about who should replace President Biden were he to drop his re-election bid.

So far, Biden has shown no interest in exiting the race following a halting debate performance that raised questions about his age and abilities. But while some Democrats ponder a variety of governors or lawmakers that could step in as nominee, the likeliest alternative to the current ticket remains one led by Harris.

While that path carries risk because Harris’s poll numbers are as lackluster as Biden’s, she is popular enough among Democrats—particularly among women and Black voters—that casting her aside could cause resentment and division within the party.

“This lady is ready to be president. She really earned her stripes," said Keith Williams, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus. “I would be angry if you try to leapfrog over a vice president."

Since the debate, Harris has emerged as Biden’s strongest public defender. Immediately after Biden’s poor performance against former President Donald Trump, she did several interviews trying to tone down the panic quickly spreading among Democrats. She then embarked on a cleanup tour on behalf of Biden, telling voters, donors and some celebrities to look past the debate and judge the president on his record.

The election wouldn’t be decided by “one night in June," she told voters in Las Vegas, giving a lengthy defense of the president. “In a real leader, character matters more than style," she said. “Trump does not have the character to be the president."

Harris also countered Trump’s debate responses on abortion rights and the Jan. 6, 2021, riots in a clearer way than Biden did at the debate,