Vice president Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom, the governor of California,are among those being considered to replace Joe Biden should the 81-year-old stand aside in the US presidential election after his latest Nato summit gaffe.
The president referred to Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin” and Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” in a pair of significant gaffes that worsened the crisis engulfing his presidency.
The blunder followed Biden’s shaky performance in the first US presidential debate of the 2024 election, in which froze, stuttered and lost his train of thought on stage.
Mr Newsom, 56, was mobbed by reporters after the debate ended, with many asking if he would step in for the ailing president who rambled in response to questions from Donald Trump.
Mr Newsom, who has the best odds to win the 2024 election of any alternative candidate, attempted to swat aside the question, saying the rumours were “unhelpful” and “unnecessary”.
But advisers close to three potential replacements for Mr Biden – thought to include Mr Newsom – said they were bombarded with pleas for their employers to step-up as an alternative, according to Politico.
“Biden needs to drop out. No question about it,” one said.