Kamala Harris 'Changes the Game' With These VP Picks, Trump Ally Warns

Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally to former President Donald Trump, warned on Saturday that if Vice President Kamala Harris were to replace President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election who she picks as a running mate "changes the game."

After Biden's dismal debate performance against Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, in Atlanta last week, there have been growing calls for the president to drop out of the race and for another prominent Democrat, like Harris, to become the party's nominee. However, Biden has vowed to stay in the race and Harris has made it clear that she fully supports him.

Biden, 81, mumbled through his administration's accomplishments and goals in a hoarse voice on the CNN debate stage on June 27. Often times he struggled to give a coherent answer. Biden's team later said he had a cold and was suffering from jet lag. Trump, 78, is only three years younger than Biden and has also faced scrutiny about his age and cognitive ability.

If Harris, 59, did run for president, she could quash voters' fears of having a leader that may be unfit to serve due to old age that are associated with Biden's reelection bid.

In the hypothetical scenario that Harris replaces Biden, "the policy debate doesn't change, the capabilities of the candidate changes—all the problems associated with a declining Biden physically and mentally go away," Graham, a South Carolina Republican, told The Washington Post in an article published on Saturday.

The senator added that who Harris would pick as her vice president in this scenario could have a huge impact.

"If she picks a governor from Pennsylvania or Michigan that changes the game," he said.

Democratic Governors Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan have also been floated as possible replacements for Biden. However, neither governor has commented about their desire to be on the top of the ticket.

Newsweek reached out to Biden and Trump's campaigns as well as Harris' press secretary, Kirsten Allen, via email for comment. It also reached out to Shapiro and Whitmer's offices via email for comment.

What Do the Polls Show?

A Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll conducted from July 1 to 5, found that only 42 percent of voters would strongly or somewhat support Harris for president if she were to replace Biden, while 50 percent would either strongly or somewhat oppose her.

Meanwhile, when asked about Whitmer, just 35 percent said they would strongly or somewhat support her for president, while 31 percent said they would strongly or somewhat oppose her, and 35 percent weren't sure or didn't have an opinion. Shapiro was not included in the poll's line of questioning.

A total of 4,902 registered voters across seven swing states, including Pennsylvania and Michigan, were polled and there was a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage points.

In a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between July 1 and 2, Trump beats Harris by 1 percentage point (43 to 42 percent) in a hypothetical matchup. Trump also leads by 5 percentage points when up against Whitmer (41 to 36 percent). Meanwhile, Trump and Biden were tied at 40 percent in a head-to-head matchup. Shapiro was not listed as an option in the poll.

The only candidate listed in the poll that won against Trump was former first lady Michelle Obama by 11 percentage points (50 to 39 percent). The poll surveyed 892 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.