Democratic officials secretly discussed plans for Joe Biden’s potential withdrawal as the party’s presidential nominee as early as 2023, according to a new book.

The book details “hush-hush talks” about Biden’s age and fitness for office, which remained an unresolved issue until a chaotic debate with Donald Trump led to his decision to step down in July 2024.

Sources indicate that aides to Kamala Harris, who eventually assumed the nomination but lost to Trump, strategized for a scenario where Biden might pass away while in office, preparing a “death-pool roster” of federal judges to swear Harris in.

Jamal Simmons, Harris’s White House communications director, is said to have led these discussions but did not inform Harris about the roster before leaving her team.

The book, “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House,” is co-authored by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, who have previously written about Trump’s 2016 win and 2020 loss.

The authors explore the growing concerns about Biden’s fitness throughout the 2024 election cycle, with Trump and Republicans seizing on Biden’s age while Biden’s team insisted on his readiness for another term.

Recent excerpts from the book reveal Harris’s frustration with her association to Biden and her team’s unsuccessful attempt to secure an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan.

The book’s first half focuses on Biden’s public decline, leading to his historic decision to step aside while eligible for re-election.

Biden, who was past 80 years old in 2023, faced speculation about his ability to complete his term, leading Democratic officials to consider contingency plans for his potential withdrawal.

After the disastrous debate and further pressure, Biden eventually announced his decision to step down in July 2024.