WASHINGTON — Even before President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump sparked calls for Biden to not run again, triggering speculation on who might replace him, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, whose new book, “True Gretch” is being released Tuesday, was in the mix as a potential Democratic presidential contender — one day. Whitmer is considered such a rising star that she will be, the Sun-Times has learned, the keynote speaker at the Democratic Party of Illinois’ annual top fundraising event this September in Chicago.
Her memoir comes as Biden is on the defensive, trying to convince Democrats that he has the mental and physical capacity to do the job — and most important, beat Trump. Biden’s next big test as he fights for his political life comes Thursday, when he holds a solo news conference pegged to the NATO summit here. It’s a coincidence that Whitmer’s book, subtitled “What I’ve Learned About Life, Leadership and Everything In Between,” is coming out now.
Whitmer announced it was in the works last April. Whitmer is among those mentioned to replace Biden on the ticket, and her profile will get even higher as she kicks off a media blitz and national book tour Tuesday. The buzz around Whitmer is getting louder.
My analysis is that if Biden does step aside, an ugly Democratic civil war will be triggered if Vice President Kamala Harris does not become the nominee. I’ve read reports that Whitmer is trying to squelch tal.
