DNC chair fires back at Nate Silver over Ohio ballot deadline

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Jaime Harrison fired back at pollster Nate Silver online Tuesday over the Ohio ballot deadline.

In a post on the social platform X, Silver posted an excerpt of a New York Times article quoting Harrison saying the DNC wants to push President Biden’s official nomination forward to avoid legal challenges from Republicans even though lawmakers in the state pushed back the deadline.

Silver said “Jaime Harrison and the DNC are blatantly lying about this,” adding that “there very much will be consequences if they force Biden’s nomination thru and he loses.”

Harrison responded in a lengthy post.

“Nate… you can call me a lot of things but a liar is definitely not one of them. I know you THINK you know every thing but class is now truly in session,” Harrison said. “Pull up a chair.”

Democrats have been expressing worry for weeks about Biden’s ability to beat former President Trump and the nomination looms.

The DNC had planned to hold a virtual roll call to make sure Biden is on the ballot in all states after being notified that the deadline in Ohio was Aug. 7, and the party’s convention is scheduled to begin Aug. 19.

In early June, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed legislation to extend the deadline to Aug. 31, but after Biden’s disastrous debate performance, Democrats are questioning if he should remain at the top of the ticket.

Silver is one of those calling on Biden to step aside and allow someone else to take on Trump.

In his response, Harrison said that under the Ohio Constitution, the law DeWine signed doesn’t take effect until 90 days, which would be Sept. 1.

“Therefore the August 7th deadline will still be in place… giving rise to litigation and/or GOP games to create more hurdles and road blocks,” Harrison wrote.

He said if the DNC did nothing, it would “not be in compliance” with Ohio law, and Biden couldn’t get on the ballot.

“To not have a presidential candidate on a state ballot would have enormous consequences and impacts on turnout for all races on the ballot,” Harrison noted.

Democrats are growing worried that if Biden stays in the race and his support drops, it will also threaten House and Senate races.

“So you can definitely take that risk and other chances when you Chair a party… I however will not,” Harrison said.

Earlier Tuesday, Biden’s principal deputy campaign manager, Quentin Fulks, told reporters in Milwaukee that the campaign has an “obligation” to make sure Biden is on the ballot.

Fulks said they instituted the virtual roll call before Ohio pushed back the deadline, and “we’re going to continue on that path, because we’re not going to leave it up to them to change the rules again.”

Fulks did not mention the 90-day enactment waiting period Harrison pointed to in his post.