In late 2018, as Joe Biden contemplated a run for president, he challenged his supporters: “If you can persuade me there is somebody better who can win, I’m happy not to do it,” as reported by The New York Times. Despite being a two-time failed presidential candidate, Biden entered the race, believing he was the best candidate to thwart President Trump’s reelection bid.
His confidence was based on a combination of strategic considerations and a moral obligation. He argued that as the candidate best positioned to defeat Trump, he owed it to the American people to run, emphasizing, “We are in the battle for the soul of this nation.” Fast forward to 2023, and a critical assessment of Biden’s reelection prospects raises questions about the validity of his candidacy.
Biden’s initial strategic advantages are now in doubt. Once viewed as uniquely qualified to unify the Democratic Party and the nation, recent developments indicate a loss of support. Black voters, blue-collar workers, and suburban voters are drifting away, eroding the broad coalition that brought him to power. Biden’s approval ratings, once promising, now mirror those of past presidents who faced troubled presidencies.
In battleground states, where Biden previously held sway, he now trails behind Trump. A Times/Siena poll showed him four points behind in states crucial to his 2020 victory. The campaign dismisses these polls as typical for incumbents at this stage, but aggregators consistently show Trump leading for over two months.
While Biden optimists suggest potential changes before the election, including Trump facing legal issues or global events affecting the political landscape, the president remains confident, denying the polling results. However, the electorate often chooses based on emotion, and Biden’s image as a competent and stabilizing force may not be enough to counter prevailing feelings of despair and pessimism.
The article argues that facing an uncertain future, Americans may not want to navigate potential crises with an 80-year-old incumbent. The piece likens the situation to a preference for Bill Pullman’s President Whitmore over a less dynamic option.
As the possibility of a second Trump term looms, the article suggests Democrats need a more formidable candidate. It contends that Biden, facing declining strategic advantages and an increasingly skeptical electorate, might not be the right person for the job.
The author proposes that Biden stepping aside could pave the way for stronger candidates. Names like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and Senator Cory Booker are presented as alternatives who could better contend with Trump.
Despite the strategic concerns raised, the moral argument from 2018 remains relevant — losing the White House in 2024 could mean a return to Trump’s leadership, fundamentally altering the nation’s character. The article concludes by urging Biden to reconsider his candidacy, acknowledging the potential complications such a decision might bring.