Michelle Obama tops Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton and Gavin Newsom as a replacement for Joe Biden, 81, if he drops out: New poll reveals who Democrats would want on the ticket and how likely they feel he WON'T run

Michelle Obama has topped Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton in a poll of who Democrats believe could replace 81-year-old Joe Biden on the ticket if he drops out. 

The former first lady's name has surfaced as a potential dramatic late entry into the 2024 race with mounting questions about Biden's age and fitness for a second term.

The 60-year-old has said multiple times she isn't interested in running for office and has admitted she is 'terrified' of the outcome of this year's election.

But she still hasn't addressed recent theories that her name could be on the Democratic ticket if Biden were to leave the race.  

The Rasmussen Reports survey finds that 47 percent of likely U.S. voters believe it is likely Democrats will replace Biden as the party’s presidential nominee including 22 percent who see it as very likely - despite nearly all Democratic party leaders backing him for a second term.

Speculation has been building over who could potentially replace Biden should he exit the race ahead of November. 

It reached a fever pitch after Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report into Biden's handling of classified documents was released earlier this month in which the president was described as an elderly man with poor memory.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama has previously denied any interest in seeking elected office

Michelle Obama beat out Harris, Clinton, Newsom and Whitmer as the top choice to replace Biden on the Democratic presidential ticket should he step aside. 27 percent of Democrats said none of the named Democrats, according to the survey

Biden is running for a second term and has blasted questions over his age and mental acuity

While nearly half of voters believe Biden will be replaced on the ticket, more Republicans at 66 percent believe it is at least somewhat likely Democrats will replace Biden with another candidate. Only 33 percent of Democrats and 43 percent of unaffiliated voters said the same.

However, there is little consensus among Democratic voters over who would be a better option to replace him should Biden decide to step aside.

One in five or 20 percent of Democrats in the survey named former First Lady Michelle Obama as the favorite choice to replace Biden.

That was followed by 15 percent who preferred Vice President Kamala Harris.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came in third at 12 percent, followed by the 11 percent who preferred California Governor Gavin Newsom, and the nine percent who wanted Gretchen Whitmer at the top of the ticket.

However, 27 percent said none of the named Democrats in the survey would be better than Biden and six percent of Democrats said they’re not sure.

Earlier this year, Michelle Obama said in a podcast interview that she is ‘terrified’ about the potential outcome of the 2024 election. 

But while Obama has been a formidable campaigner for fellow Democrats and active in get out the vote efforts, she has previously denied any interest in seeking office herself.

Meanwhile, Harris has said she is ‘ready to serve’ should the need arise but has blasted the criticism of Biden, calling the special counsel report politically motivated.

Newsom, who has sparked speculation about his own presidential aspirations, has also been a fierce advocate for Biden, rejecting concerns about his mental acuity and touting Biden’s accomplishments on the campaign trail.

Clinton has said Biden’s age at 81-years-old is a legitimate concern, but she has also been actively helping with the fundraising effort for his reelection bid.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has also been an active surrogate for the Biden campaign and fundraising efforts.

In an interview over the weekend with CNN, Whitmer called on voters in her state to cast an ‘affirmative vote for President Biden’ amid a push by progressives in Michigan for Democrats to vote ‘uncommitted’ in the primary on Tuesday.

Biden launched his reelection bid last year. He has dismissed concerns over his ability to serve a second term and blasted the Hur report saying his memory is fine.

Despite the speculation over whether Biden will stay in the race, it has been 140 years since a political party has denied a sitting president the nomination for a second term who has wanted it and that was under very different circumstances.