Representative James Clyburn, a kingmaker within the , offered a plan for selecting 's replacement should the president step aside and allow another candidate to take his place as the party's 2024 nominee. Clyburn floated the idea of a "mini-primary" during a Wednesday interview with , saying that it would involve several candidates trying to win the remaining 700 uncommitted delegates. So far, Biden has amassed 3,894 pledged delegates through his victories in state primaries.
"You can actually fashion the process that's already in place to make it a mini-primary, and I would support that. Absolutely," Clyburn said, adding, "This would give us a good opportunity, not just to measure up who would be good to be at the top of the ticket, but also who would be best in second place." Clyburn is part of the growing chorus of who have expressed concern about Biden's candidacy in the wake of his debate performance last week.
Clyburn's remarks are especially critical given that the South Carolina Democrat is widely credited with helping Biden win in 2020. His primary endorsement of Biden not only helped Biden secure the nomination but also aided him in making major inroads with Black voters. He further cemented his status as a Democrat kingmaker with Shontel Brown's congressional victory in 2021 and Representative Henry Cuellar's reelection in 2022.
Asked if he had noticed a mental decline in Biden over recent months, the congressman said he did not in his "one-on-one meetings" with t.