In a groundbreaking development, infighting within the Democratic party has reached new heights as three party elders advocate for a swift virtual nomination of President Biden prior to the Democratic National Convention slated for late August. This move has sparked pushback from some House Democrats who demand a slower process and raise concerns over Biden's ability to remain at the forefront of the ticket.

The battle within the Democratic party revolves around the question of whether Biden is the right candidate to go head-to-head against former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election. Following a lackluster debate performance and a subsequent dip in the polls, doubts have emerged within the party as to whether Biden can effectively lead the Democratic ticket.

The dispute has brought attention to the somewhat obscure party nominating rules and the challenge of meeting ballot access deadlines in all 50 states. To resolve the issue swiftly, President Biden's closest supporters are pushing for his formal nomination by thousands of Democratic delegates. However, in the wake of the June 27 debate, where Biden appeared hesitant and seemed confused at times, others within the party argue that it is time for him to step aside and make room for a new candidate.

Former Democratic National Committee chairs Donna Brazile, Terry McAuliffe, and Howard Dean sent an email to the DNC's rules committee on Tuesday, urging them to hold a "virtual roll call" to nominate Biden and Vice President Harris by early August. They stressed the importance of ensuring Democratic nominees appear on every ballot in the United States this fall, proposing a conclusion of the process before August 7.

Traditionally, major parties formally nominate their candidates during their respective conventions, replicating the recent Republican nomination of Trump in Milwaukee. However, the Democratic convention was scheduled to start over a week after the Closing Ceremonies of the Paris Olympics, with Biden's acceptance speech slated for August 22. This scheduling discrepancy has created confusion regarding ballot access deadlines, particularly in states like Ohio, where conservative officials discussed omitting Biden's name from the ballot.

While some Democrats favor the Biden-Harris ticket out of fear of political upheaval, others vehemently oppose what they perceive as an attempt by party officials to force through the nomination of a politically vulnerable candidate. The proposal to hold a virtual roll call is viewed by these Democrats as a Trojan horse intended to silence any discussions of replacing Biden.

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) drafted a letter to DNC officials expressing his concerns, asserting that the proposed "extraordinary and unprecedented action" could accelerate the nomination process by nearly a month. Huffman hopes to gather support from those who seek to replace Biden as well as his staunch supporters. By securing approximately 50 signatures initially from the California delegation, Huffman intends to demonstrate the strength of the dissenting faction.

Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.), representing a pivotal swing district in a critical battleground state, has expressed her willingness to sign the letter and indicates that around 25 Democrats have shown interest in joining. Notably, Wild has hosted Biden and other key officials in her district, and her support carries weight. The draft letter also highlights recent legislation in Ohio that enables the Democratic nominee to be included on the ballot post-convention.

The DNC process is dominated by loyalists to President Biden, suggesting that lawmakers opposing his nomination face an uphill battle. Experts claim that replacing Biden before the convention, when there is no official nominee and ballots have not been printed, would be relatively straightforward and unlikely to face significant court challenges from Republicans. However, if Democrats attempt to replace Biden after he becomes the official nominee, the situation becomes more complicated.

In mid-June, prior to Biden's debate with Trump, the DNC outlined a plan to hold meetings with various committees leading up to the convention in Chicago. To address Ohio's specific requirements, the DNC would utilize a virtual roll call similar to the one used during the pandemic-era convention four years ago.

The ongoing disagreement has led to finger-pointing, with Ben Kindel, a spokesman for the GOP Ohio Secretary of State, attributing any ballot access issues in Ohio to the Democratic party's own dysfunction. Over 20 congressional Democrats have called for Biden to step aside for a new nominee, possibly Vice President Harris. Despite the pressure, Biden remains firm and has been actively engaging with his advisers and Democratic lawmakers to quell the rebellion.

As the discussions continue, the support for President Biden remains strong among the longest-serving members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who flew alongside him to a gathering of the NAACP. However, senior Democratic leaders have seemingly remained silent in the ongoing talks.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) recently visited Biden at the White House and his Delaware home, respectively. The content of their discussions with the president remains undisclosed, leaving many lawmakers in the dark about their leaders' stance.

With the memo from the former party chairmen emphasizing the importance of avoiding complications and ensuring certainty in the election process, the fate of Biden's nomination is still to be determined. As the debate rages on, Democrats are faced with the challenge of balancing party unity with the concerns surrounding Biden's ability to secure victory in the upcoming election.