The New York Post reports that the Democratic National Committee is considering a “loophole” strategy if President Joe Biden refuses to step down or drop out of the race. During a Friday morning Zoom call with 50 delegates, DNC delegate Elaine Kamarck explained that if convention delegates no longer feel they can vote for their pledged candidate in “good conscience,” they may be able to reconsider their support.
Kamarck, a long-time member of the DNC Rules Committee, stated that there is no provision for Biden to “release” his delegates, a concept that Biden is reportedly aware of. She expressed frustration that this nuance isn’t widely understood by the press.
The DNC rules state that delegates pledged to a presidential candidate should reflect the sentiments of those who elected them. Kamarck noted that after the 1980 convention, where Ted Kennedy and President Jimmy Carter contested fiercely, the rules were amended to allow more flexibility, unlike the Republican party, where delegates are bound more strictly.
Kamarck pointed out that Biden’s overwhelming delegate support from the primaries means those delegates can argue that Biden no longer “reflects” their sentiments, giving them the option to shift their allegiance.
The call, hosted by Kamarck for Delegates Are Democracy—a new group formed last week—aimed to inform delegates of their options before the convention in Chicago from August 19-22. The group claims their goal is not to force Biden out but to clarify the process.
An anonymous delegate asked about navigating an open convention, to which Kamarck replied that it would be challenging, advising delegates to consult their constituents and possibly rely on national polling.
Even a partial revolt at the convention could be politically damaging for Biden as he prepares for the November election against Republican nominee Donald Trump. An anonymous Democrat expressed concern that any defection, even if minimal, would be portrayed as a significant blow to Biden’s campaign.
Victor Davis Hanson observed on X that a potential internal coup to remove a sitting president from his party’s nomination is unprecedented in modern history. He noted the irony of elite Democrats, who previously defended Biden’s fitness and suppressed primary challengers, now seeking to replace him due to poor debate performances and a bleak electoral outlook.
