US President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate with former president Donald Trump in Atlanta has created doubts, even among his supporters, whether the 81-year-old would be able to put a tough fight in the November presidential election. Biden, seeking a second term in the White House, stumbled and fumbled during the televised debate with his predecessor. In contrast, the 78-year-old Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was aggressive right from the word go. Interestingly, during the debate, Biden even with facts on his side faltered most of the time, while Trump, true to his demeanour, lied most of the time with confidence. Nevertheless, the 90-minute debate provided enough fodder for serious commentary, opinions and memes on social media.
Now, there is a growing clamour for Biden to step down from the presidential race both within the Democratic Party and the mainstream media in the United States. The New York Times put it succinctly in an editorial: “To serve his country, President Biden should leave the race,” while The Atlantic wrote: “Dropping out is Biden’s most patriotic option.” Moreover, the undecided voters, who were unable to make a choice between Biden and Trump before the debate, seem to have now made up their minds.
Biden is yet to be officially nominated, allowing room for potential changes. Various possibilities remain open: he may opt to withdraw before his nomination, face challenges from others seeking to sway the delegates he has accrued, or step down post the Democratic convention in Chicago from 19 to 22 August, leading the Democratic National Committee to select an alternative candidate.
While Vice President Kamala Harris is a probable top contender, she has faced challenges such as a rough beginning in her job and low poll numbers. According to the US Constitution, the vice president assumes the presidency in the event of the president’s death or incapacitation, but it does not offer guidance on selecting a nominee within the same party. Others like California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s names have been suggested, but they are currently supporting and campaigning for Biden.
Amid the mounting pressure to step down, Biden, with his inner circle firmly standing by him, has asserted that he is not giving up. “I get it. I didn’t have a great night, but I’m going to be fighting harder,” Biden told his fundraisers in New Jersey.
Biden’s inner circle may be with him, but age certainly is not by his side. The fragile and confused looking POTUS has to take a call in the larger interest of the world’s oldest democracy. If not, a convicted felon may return to the White House and it will be a first in US history. Nothing could be more disastrous for democracy and its admirers. With geopolitical tensions and trade wars flaring across the globe and the axis of China-Russia threatening to rip apart the established democratic global order, the world can ill-afford a return of Trump.
In brief, with Trump back at the Oval Office which inevitably would result in America going down, it might prove disastrous not only for the US but for the entire free world.