Jim Geraghty, on today’s Editors episode, pondered what might happen inside the Democratic Party if Republicans nominate, say, Nikki Haley: “Wouldn’t that force the Democrats’ hand that Biden can’t run another term? And conceivably Harris too.”

Poll after poll already reflects deep voter unease with the state of the economy and the Biden presidency itself. Could the party actually abandon the incumbent president, if he ends up facing somebody other than Donald Trump?

“Considering how quickly the party came together behind Biden against Sanders, March 2020, the idea of them suddenly getting together behind Newsom–Whitmer, or Whitmer and any combination of Midwestern governors, they would do it,” Geraghty said. “They would make it happen, I suspect, if it was Biden against a significantly younger, more energetic, confident, competent, non-crazy Republican nominee.”

Unfortunately, he added, “Republicans are hell-bent on nominating Trump.”

The Editors podcast is recorded on Tuesdays and Fridays every week and is available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen to the whole episode.