The CNN poll also asked voters about potential replacements for Biden. Harris fared the best, trailing Trump by only two points, 47 percent to 45 percent, within the margin of error.
Several other prominent Democrats outperformed Biden in polling, including Govs. Gavin Newsom (Calif.) and Gretchen Whitmer (Mich.), as well as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
The Biden campaign has quickly shut down any notion that the president would leave the 2024 race.
Both candidates lose to a generic 3rd candidate. That was true even before the debate. The problem is finding a generic 3rd candidate that people agree on.
Truth is, the only person I can think of with enough name recognition that might bring enough support from progressives, moderates, and centrists this late is maybe Pete Buttigieg. But I wouldn’t bet on it. Biden needs to use every moment from here until November to get in front of people to show that the debate was an outlier.
I’d love to put Senator Whitehouse up as an alternative - climate change needs to be the priority.