Democrats Planned Biden's Exit, Harris Unaware

A new book, 'Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House' by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, claims Democrats began contingency planning as early as 2023 for President Joe Biden's potential withdrawal or even death in office. Led by Kamala Harris's communications director Jamal Simmons, these preparations included a 'death-pool roster' of judges to swear Harris in if necessary. Despite public defense of Biden's health, private concerns about his age and fitness were significant enough to prompt strategic planning. The book details that Harris's aides were instructed to notify Simmons immediately if anything happened to Biden, although Harris herself was not informed of these plans. Biden eventually withdrew from the race after a poor performance against Trump, leading to Harris's nomination, which faced internal skepticism and concern among Democratic donors. This book provides an inside look at the Democratic Party's crisis management amid Biden's declining public performance and health concerns.