OPINION:
Outgoing President Biden was removed from the Democratic ticket back in July when his party finally conceded that he never stood a chance against Donald Trump. In the recent election, Mr. Trump increased his votes from 2020 by more than 3 million. Mr. Trump is the first presidential nominee to receive more than 6 million votes in three states (California, Texas and Florida).
Mr. Biden holds the record for the largest number of votes garnered by a presidential candidate, with more than 81 million votes, followed by Mr. Trump, who received more than 77 million votes and Kamala Harris, who got over 75 million. Yet even with his nearly 4 million-vote advantage, Mr. Biden still would have lost to Mr. Trump in 2020 if the numbers had been the same as they were this year in seven swing states.
That’s because Mr. Trump swept the swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, North Carolina and Nevada. In all seven, Ms. Harris received more votes than Mr. Biden had, but Mr. Trump still won.
An in-depth analysis of Ms. Harris’ votes in these states found that she performed better than Mr. Biden in North Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin and Nevada. Her only path to victory would have been to win those four states.
Ms. Harris lost Pennsylvania, Michigan and Arizona by 387,751 votes. Mr. Biden would have lost to Mr. Trump in those three states by just 195,774 votes.
For the 2028 Democratic primary season, Ms. Harris’ supporters will say she’s their best chance to win North Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin and Nevada. But her opponents will argue that she’s not their best hope of winning Pennsylvania, Michigan and Arizona.
TEDDYLEE GRAY
Saint Ann, Jamaica
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