Choose Order Now or Chaos Later
It would be better for Joe Biden to pass the torch sooner rather than later.
Something has changed and people are speaking out. It feels like there is now space for concerned citizens to say in public what they were previously whispering in private: Joe Biden needs to pass the torch to a younger, stronger nominee.
Following a CNN poll with bad news for Biden’s future as the Democratic nominee — and two viral posts by statistician Nate Silver about his age and running mate — the Washington Post published compelling op-eds from David Ignatius and David Von Drehle exhorting him to step aside. (The Ignatius piece, in particular, must have been a tough pill to swallow for the White House.)
On YouTube, James Carville sat down with Bill Kristol and offered a brutal assessment of Biden’s viability. And, yesterday, a former Minneapolis mayor — who governed the city for a decade — posted the Ignatius piece and added his voice to the growing calls for the president to reconsider his campaign.
When I look at all the risks associated with Biden — age, unpopularity, inflation, Hunter, organized labor struggles, and now declining elite support — I find it hard to believe that he will make it to November 2024 as the Democratic nominee. This presents Biden and Democrats with a choice: an orderly passing of the torch right now followed by a vibrant, competitive primary or a chaotic situation next summer, which would almost certainly lead to Kamala Harris as the nominee — someone even more likely to lose to Trump than 81-year-old Biden.
For the good of the country and Democratic Party, Biden should choose order over chaos. A competitive primary selecting a talented, energetic, and popular Democrat — someone like Jared Polis, Raphael Warnock, Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro, or Gina Raimondo — would give the party the best possible chance at beating Trump and protecting our constitutional order. (And, in 2028, Democrats would enjoy the incumbency advantage against a generic GOP nominee likely to be much stronger than Trump.)
Though Biden is surrounded by some particularly cynical and opportunistic individuals, I believe he personally wants what’s best for the country and can be convinced that passing the torch is the best thing for his legacy and the country’s future. Stepping aside sooner rather than later — avoiding a tragic situation where poor health might force him to step aside — would almost certainly strike fear in the hearts of Trump campaign aides and allow Biden to end his political career with honor in January 2025.
Do the right thing, Joe.