Khanna says he thinks Harris would get Democratic nomination if Biden steps aside

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna (Calif.) on Sunday maintained his support for President Biden in the 2024 race, while predicting Vice President Harris would likely win the party’s presidential nomination should the president withdraw his reelection bid.

“I mean, if [Biden] made that decision [to withdraw from the race], the vote is on Aug. 7,” Khanna said on ABC News’s “This Week” when asked if he would like to see an open convention if Biden steps aside.

“I believe that the vice president would win that vote. I don’t think you’re going to see many people challenger her. I mean, these are Biden-Harris delegates, it’s not an open primary,” Khanna added. “I think if it were an open primary, there should be many candidates, but the idea that in two weeks, someone not on the national stage is going to be able to put together a majority of Biden and Harris delegates, I just think is unrealistic.”

Biden is facing calls from an increasing number of Democrats to withdraw his 2024 reelection bid over concerns about his ability to defeat former President Trump in November and carry out a second term. These calls began shortly after a disastrous debate showing against Trump last month, reigniting worries over his mental acuity and age. At 81, he is the oldest sitting U.S. president.

Khanna doubled down on his support of Biden in the wake of mounting pressure, arguing that Biden has a “coalition of African American women, blue-collar workers [and] seniors” who will support the president.

“If [Biden] feels bullied out, those voters are going to be, feel that they were bullied out, so it is his decision,” Khanna said. “There is no question that voters don’t like the fact that Joe Biden is 81.”

“But here’s what I’m not seeing is a head-to-head poll saying Joe Biden versus Chuck Schumer versus Nancy Pelosi versus who else, who do you want as the Democratic nominee. The president always says don’t compare him to the Almighty. We know that voters are concerned about his age,” he added. “What I haven’t seen is a [poll] showing that in other candidates — other than perhaps [former first lady] Michelle Obama — would clearly be the choice of the Democratic electorate.”

A series of polls was conducted in the weeks following the debate, one of which showed Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton running ahead of Trump and Biden trailing slightly behind. The finding was from top Democratic pollster Bendixen & Amandi Inc.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll earlier this month found Michelle Obama was the only Democrat to beat Trump in a hypothetical match-up.

The Democratic National Convention is slated to hold a virtual roll-call vote to formally nominate Biden ahead of the convention next month, which several House Democrats warned against last week.

Should Biden step aside before being officially nominated, his 3,896 pledged delegates would be free to vote for other candidates at the convention. While he could no longer control the delegates, he could endorse a successor.

To win the nomination, a candidate needs to shore up support from the majority of the delegates.

While acknowledging his poor debate performance last month, Biden has maintained he is remaining in the race, and Harris has backed him up.

When pressed on whether he would reconsider calling for Biden to step aside, Khanna appeared to sidestep the question and said it is the president’s decision.