There was no way to hide it. The performance of the president of USA, Joe Bidenin it debate on the night of Thursday, June 28 against donald trump was “disastrous.” The Democratic candidate for reelection stammered, spoke in a raspy voice, was incoherent, stumbled and it was not clear what he wanted to say. At 81 years old (he will turn 82 two weeks after the elections on November 5, 2024), Biden’s age became a dramatic problem for the ruling party.
With very little, a Donald Trump convicted by Justice and with an advantage in the polls, surpassed him and was positioned for a victory. Even the Republican took advantage of his rival’s failures to launch an aggressive campaign spot this Friday showing Biden’s worst moments in the debate, without adding anything more than hesitant music and his campaign slogan.
Given the “panic” that is being experienced in the Democratic Party this Friday, one question is repeated in all areas: Can they replace Joe Biden as presidential candidate?
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Joe Biden’s age has been a topic of conversation since he first ran for president of the United States in 2020, at the age of 77, after having served twice as vice president under Barack Obama. Much attention was then paid to his running mate, Kamala Harrisdue to the possibility that it may have to be replaced in the event of death. The issue became more relevant when Biden announced that he would run for re-election: if he wins, he will be 86 years old at the end of his second term..
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Age is just a number: His rival, Donald Trump, is 78 years old and looks much more active and lucid.. The drama that affects Biden is that on many occasions he has been seen at public events disoriented, with the appearance of not knowing where he is, greeting his interlocutors twice as if he had forgotten having done so seconds before. In recent months there were more speeches in which he was heard stammering, and the stumbles multiplied. Most of those moments went viral endlessly on social networks. The possibility of looking for another candidate was installed as a topic.
But the tradition that a “successful” president must seek re-election in the United States was stronger. The last time an incumbent president failed to be nominated to run for a second term was in 1884.. And this was not going to be the exception. Between January and June 2024, Biden swept the primaries in all states. He won the support of 3,894 of the 3,949 Democratic delegates, although he only needed 1,975 to renew his name on the ballot.
That illusion was shattered, or at least cracked, on Thursday night. What was said in hushed tones was now declared over microphones. “There is a sense of shock at how he came out at the beginning of the debate. And at the sound of his voice. He seemed a little disoriented. There will be discussions about whether he should continue.“David Axelrod, a top member of Obama’s campaign and White House staff, told reporters CNN.
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Without giving names, the proposals are more direct: “Biden is about to face a growing number of calls to step aside”a veteran Democratic strategist told the New York Times. He Washington Post He spoke of Democratic “panic” and reported that several leaders responded with emojis of covered faces and even people vomiting when asked about their candidate’s performance in the debate.
It all depends on Biden himself
The good news for Democrats is that there is still a window of time to nominate another candidate. The party’s National Convention, which is supposed to formally elect the presidential and vice presidential candidates, will be held between August 19 and 22. The call can even be brought forward if necessary. The problem is that those thousands of delegates who elected Biden in the primaries, while not legally required to vote the same way at the convention, They must “reflect in all good conscience the feelings of those who elected them”. And they chose them to nominate Biden.
In short, while there are mechanisms to open a new nomination, the replacement would have to be put in place if the president himself decides he does not want to compete. Something that is not yet in his plans today. “Of course he will not drop out,” said his campaign spokeswoman Lauren Hitt on Friday.
Biden himself seemed optimistic about his performance. “I think we did well”he told reporters at a Georgia restaurant after the event, adding that it is “hard to debate a liar.” CNN poll It reflected that the Republican was the winner of the debate for 67% of those consulted, while the Democrat was only seen better by 33%.
If in the coming weeks the Democrats convince Biden to decline his candidacy, the Convention could be brought forward and open the possibility of a new candidate. The latest precedent in this sense is the resignation of Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968. In that case, they would have less than three months to install him at the national level before the November 5 elections. Then another problem appears: Who can replace Biden?
Candidates to replace Joe Biden
The most obvious contender for the nomination is his running mate, Kamala Harris, who ran with him in 2020. She would be the least contentious, given that she is already in second place on the ticket. But Harris cannot be handpicked by Biden: She would have to compete in an open and unpredictable primary with anyone else who wants to run. Even if she wins, the current vice president will spark a race to choose her running mate.
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The list of candidates for the democratic candidacy who ended up supporting Biden includes the governor of California, Gavin Newsom; Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer; and Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro.
But there could be surprises, such as Biden’s competitor in the 2020 primaries, Bernie Sanders, although his victory is unlikely given that he is a year older than the president. Rumors even circulated of a candidacy by Michelle Obama, the former president’s wife.
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