Washington D.C. is apparently full of traitors.
In an unexpected development, support for President Biden’s potential reelection bid appears to be gaining traction from an unlikely source: Republicans. A growing number of Republicans and former Trump administration officials are openly expressing their readiness to vote for Biden over former President Trump in a hypothetical general election rematch. Their primary concern driving this unconventional shift is the perceived risk that Trump poses to U.S. democracy.
Expressing her stance, Sarah Matthews, a former press aide in Trump’s 2020 campaign and White House who resigned on January 6, 2021, stated, “While I’ve never voted for a Democrat a day in my life, I would support Biden over Trump if he becomes the GOP nominee.” Similar sentiments are reverberating among former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley supporters in Iowa, as indicated by recent polling.
The willingness of some Republicans to cross party lines raises intriguing questions about the potential impact on the November election. The decision may hinge on whether Trump-skeptical Republicans can overcome their reservations and throw their support behind the former president or if they opt to vote for Biden, thereby fortifying his coalition in what is expected to be a closely contested race.
Recent averages from national polling show Trump leading Biden by approximately 1 percentage point, while swing state polls suggest an 8-point lead for Trump in Michigan and Georgia, with Biden narrowly ahead in Pennsylvania. Political strategists posit that the election’s outcome may pivot on each candidate’s capacity to mobilize their base, given the limited number of persuadable voters.
President Biden’s campaign welcomes the support from Republicans alarmed by the perceived threat Trump and extremists pose to freedom and democracy. Despite the aspirations of some GOP voters for alternative candidates like Nikki Haley, Trump’s dominant showing in early primary states suggests he is likely to secure the nomination.
Prominent Republicans, such as former Rep. Adam Kinzinger and Anthony Scaramucci, explicitly voice their preference for Biden over Trump, citing concerns about Trump’s impact on democracy. While figures like Sen. Mitt Romney and former Rep. Liz Cheney stop short of endorsing Biden, they signal reluctance to support Trump again.
The potential emergence of a third-party bid by anti-Trump conservatives introduces an additional layer of complexity to the political landscape. Democrats perceive an opportunity to win over this faction of Republicans who may view Biden as a more favorable alternative. As the election narrative unfolds, the dynamics of cross-party support and concerns about democracy’s future play a pivotal role in shaping the political landscape leading up to November.