Gretchen Whitmer eyed as possible replacement for Biden, should he step down

Following Joe Biden's lackluster performance during Thursday's presidential debate against Donald Trump, there has been signaling from both Republicans as well as Democrats that perhaps it's time for him to stand down in the race for re-election.

Although some experts are calling a push for Biden to be removed from the 2024 ballot a "risky proposition," names are already being floated around as to who would best be suited to take his place.

While Vice President Kamala Harris is an obvious top choice, there is another top female contender in the mix: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and, according to her former aide, she offers much of what Biden is lacking.

According to The Telegraph, Mark Burton, who was Whitmer’s top aide for more than a decade, says that "she has always looked at her ascension over time in politics as an inherent comparison against the other candidate." Adding that she could beat Trump in a campaign and "govern better than Donald Trump could govern over the next four years."

Stopping short of affirming whether or not Whitmer would be a more effective candidate than Biden, Burton says she's “certainly got strengths that he doesn’t." Among the strengths listed are her “disarming” sense of humor and her youth, in comparison to the other candidates.

“Unfortunately, the electorate makes up its mind on certain issues very, very early and on the questions of age with the president, you know, I think, I think most people have already made up their mind on that point,” he said.