Democratic donors push Whitmer and Newsom as Biden replacements

Top Democratic donors have made Gretchen Whitmer and Gavin Newsom their preferred candidates to replace Joe Biden in the White House race against Donald Trump, said several people familiar with the matter.

The donor focus on Michigan governor Whitmer and California governor Newsom reflects deepening frustration among Democratic operatives and backers with the impasse over Biden’s future.

Donors remain anxious about Biden’s condition and his polling since the disastrous debate with Trump last week, saying the president’s campaign is simply delaying an inevitable battle for succession with four months to go until November’s general election.

“Biden’s candidacy is doomed,” said a donor and bundler — a person tasked with collecting money from other backers — who is close to the president.

“I’m Joe’s biggest fan, he’s an admirable public servant but he’s doomed . . . we need to start putting all our focus on what comes next.”

Vice-president Kamala Harris is also among candidates donors think could replace Biden, said several donors and bundlers, who have held talks among themselves as they prepare to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to fund a new candidate.

Party grandees, including top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, have also held crisis talks with large donors to gauge their mood following the debate, donors and bundlers said.