Staff Reports
The Democratic Convention is just around the corner, and conservatives are gearing up for what could be a major political shake-up. Joe Biden’s chances of staying on the ballot are hanging by a thread after the disastrous special counsel report on him. The fallout from the report is causing a significant drop in polling numbers, and Democrats have only six months to figure out if they want to stick with Biden or find someone else.
Despite the public show of support, Democrats know deep down that Biden’s age is a serious concern. A recent poll by ABC News/Ipsos revealed that a whopping 86% of Americans believe Biden, who is 81, is too old to serve another term as president. Even within the Democratic party, 73% of Democrats think Biden is too old to serve, and a staggering 91% of independents agree. It’s clear that this problem won’t just disappear, and Democrats are running out of time to fix it.
Politico interviewed partisan strategists on how to solve Biden’s age issue, and their suggestions ranged from speaking to the press to conducting Q&A sessions. However, it seems like Biden’s team is dropping the ball on even the simplest tasks. They missed out on a golden opportunity to do a softball interview during the Super Bowl. James Carville, the Democratic strategist, called it a sign of lack of confidence in Biden. The rare press conference Biden did manage to hold was a disaster, as he mixed up the leaders of Mexico and Egypt and became fuel for the internet meme machine.
To make matters worse, Biden has a history of making bizarre statements, like claiming to talk to dead leaders and struggling to remember who he is speaking to. His staff has shortened his schedule, and he even skipped the funeral of a fellow Democrat because it would have been too physically demanding for him. The President clearly lacks the physical and mental capacity to help himself, and it’s clear that help won’t be coming any time soon.
NBC News may claim that “no serious conversations” have happened about replacing Biden, but that doesn’t fool anyone with common sense. In 2016, when Hillary Clinton’s health became a concern, then-DNC head Donna Brazile admitted to exploring options to replace her. If they were willing to consider it before the primaries, it’s only logical to assume they’re considering it now. Though it may be too late for another candidate to challenge Biden in the primaries, NBC News has already published an article outlining the process Democrats would have to follow to replace him. There’s smoke, and where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
The most likely path forward for Democrats is a combination of private and public pressure to convince Biden to step aside. Kamala Harris, the Vice President, would undoubtedly benefit from Biden’s delayed decision, allowing her to swoop in and take over. If Biden were to step down now, chaos would ensue, as a race for delegates would unfold ahead of the convention. Democrats have their work cut out for them in the next six months, and if they don’t act swiftly and decisively, they risk losing ground to Donald Trump, who currently leads Biden in most polls.
It’s unclear if Biden’s team even believes he can go through with debates at this point. With his inability to handle prolonged questioning and his constant fumbling during speeches and events, it’s hard to imagine he would fare well in a debate. The operation to replace Biden is underway, and the only question remaining is how Democrats will execute their pressure campaign to oust him. Who will step up and be the first to open the floodgates and say, “It’s time to move on?” Time is ticking, and Democrats need to act fast if they want a shot at winning the presidency.
