Biden's Debate Calls for Reconsideration of the Democrat Nominee
- Gabe James
- Jun 30, 2024
- 4 min read
Just a few days after the Presidential Debate, media continues to mercilessly cover the piling issues concerning Biden as the Democratic presumptive nominee.
As President Joe Biden took his place opposite former President Donald Trump, in what would become a critical moment in his re-election campaign, the public soon realized that Biden may be worse off than we anticipated. The debate, broadcasted nationwide, was meant to be a platform for Biden to showcase his leadership and vision for America's future, however, the aftermath of the event left many within the Democratic Party scrambling for a Plan B.
Immediate Critiques
David Axelrod, a seasoned political strategist and former White House senior advisor, captured the rampant sentiment when he remarked, “There was a sense of shock actually on how he came out at the beginning of this debate"
Aired on CNN, these comments reflected a widespread unease about Biden's performance. This unease was not limited to his delivery but extended to concerns about his age and stamina. Despite Biden's efforts to defend his administration's achievements, such as job creation and healthcare reforms, his performance was described as underwhelming and disastrous by several commentators and analysts.
"His debate performance has reignited the conversation over whether he should step aside before the November election," noted a Yahoo News report – a statement that is making many Democrats lose faith in their current leader.
Media coverage of the debate was swift and critical. Politico, in its analysis, questioned whether Biden appeared strong enough to withstand the rigors of another grueling campaign against a formidable opponent like Trump. The report emphasized that Biden's perceived weaknesses could become a significant liability for the Democratic Party as they head into the 2024 election.
During the debate, Biden attempted to balance defending his record with addressing the economic concerns of voters. President Biden, during the debate, attempted to highlight achievements, such as the creation of 15,000 new jobs and 800,000 new manufacturing positions; however, these points often seemed overshadowed by his apparent difficulty in articulating a compelling vision for the future.
Biden’s remarks on the economy, for instance, were intended to showcase progress but often fell flat, mainly due to his frequent and hard-to-watch gaffs that were present in nearly every sentence.
The main takeaway from the debate is the discussion of whether Biden is truly fit to run for another four years. The Democratic Party, facing the dual challenges of rallying their base and countering a resurgent Trump campaign, found itself grappling with a critical question: Should Biden drop out of the race? This question is becoming more and more relevant in Democratic pools of discussion as the debate has not only rallied Trump supporters but is likely to shift many Democratic voters to the opposition.
Should Biden Drop Out?
Inside the Democratic Party, the anxiety about Biden's candidacy is palpable. Politico highlighted this internal conflict, noting that some party members, including Representative Dean Phillips, have suggested the need for a robust conversation about Biden's future. "Democrats of a certain age, and even those younger, recall this painful history and that of 1980, when Jimmy Carter spent the first half of the year fending off a primary challenger," wrote Politico, drawing parallels to past election cycles that saw incumbent presidents struggle.
This sentiment is not isolated. Yahoo News reported that while Biden maintains strong backing from elected Democrats, his underwhelming debate performance has reanimated discussions about whether he should continue his campaign. "President Joe Biden's reelection bid has the strong backing of most elected Democrats. But many Democrats are concerned over Biden's underwhelming debate performance against Donald Trump," the report noted, underscoring the internal party dilemma.
Democratic commentator Cenk Ugyur, founder of the Young Turks, posted on X last Sunday a reason why the Biden Administration will not give up on their campaign: “Everyone on the Biden campaign will be out of a job when there is a new candidate. That new candidate will pick their own team. So, the Biden campaign has an enormous incentive to lie to you and pretend Biden is fine. Their jobs depend on you believing that lie”.
Many believe Biden, soon to be 82 years old, should be spending time with his grandkids in his older years, yet the Democratic party is making clear strides to keep him in the running.
If Biden were to step down, the path forward for the Democratic Party is riddled with challenges. The procedural and political hurdles of replacing an incumbent president at this stage are significant. However, potential successors like Vice President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer are often mentioned as possible alternatives.
The scenario of Biden stepping down is complex. As Politico explained, "The likeliest outcome is that Biden stays on the ticket. But it is also possible to envision different scenarios where the party does indeed nominate someone other than Biden".
Should Biden choose to withdraw, it would need to be managed in a way that preserves his dignity and ensures a smooth transition. "There is a path that enables him to leave with dignity and on his terms," Politico suggested, indicating that Biden could frame his departure as a strategic move to strengthen the party's chances in the general election.
This strategic withdrawal would involve significant coordination and planning within the Democratic Party. The goal would be to ensure that the new candidate is well-positioned to take on Trump and to maintain the party's unity. This scenario, while challenging, is not entirely out of the realm of possibility, especially given the stakes of the upcoming election.
President Biden and his family, just after the debate, met in Camp David to discuss the future of his campaign, to which the family has encouraged Biden to “keep fighting”, according to the New York Times. The primary voice pushing Biden to continue is his son Hunter Biden, who claimed he “wants Americans to see the version of his father that he knows — scrappy and in command of the facts — rather than the stumbling, aging president Americans saw on Thursday night”.
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