If only Joe Biden had stuck to his original ambition of being a transitional president. If only the President of the United States had passed the torch sooner.
Democrats would have had time to organize a real nomination contest that would have shone a spotlight on their party…for the right reasons. This process could have showcased candidates and ideas from all walks of life, much like the TV series America’s Got Talent (France has an unbelievable talentin France), still as popular after 19 seasons.
Instead, Americans have been treated to a very sad spectacle for almost a month. That of a president who struggles to climb the steps of his plane, who confuses Presidents Putin and Zelensky, who cannot respond to Donald Trump’s lies in a pitiful debate…
By announcing Sunday that he would not seek a second term, Joe Biden showed character. Leaving power behind, after more than 50 years of loyal service, was the best move to make to maximize Democrats’ chances of defeating Donald Trump.
The Democratic Party has a chance to start fresh. Delegates who pledged to support Joe Biden in the primary are now free to vote differently.
A real race would help mobilize the troops and provide transparency to supporters who feel the party hasn’t told them everything about President Biden’s health.
Even though Vice President Kamala Harris is the overwhelming favorite, a race would give her more legitimacy, erasing the impression that she owes her position to an establishment that imposes its views.
Such an exercise would also prepare her to take on Donald Trump, much like former President Barack Obama, who became a stronger candidate after facing Hillary Clinton in 2008.
However, most of Kamala Harris’ potential rivals quickly gave her their support. These include governors Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan), Gavin Newsom (California), Wes Moore (Maryland) and Andy Beshear (Kentucky).
Are they making a cynical political calculation in letting her go to the front against Donald Trump, to run in four years with a greater chance of victory? Or are they instead giving her the way to avoid dissension within the party?
In 1968, the withdrawal of President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was deeply unpopular because of the Vietnam War, led to a chaotic open convention. The Democratic Party ultimately lost power to Republican Richard Nixon.
With three weeks to go before the convention that will determine their nominee, Democrats do not have the luxury of tearing themselves apart in the face of Republicans who are united as never before behind their leader, who survived an assassination attempt.
Last week, Republicans emerged pumped up from their convention, a testosterone-fueled spectacle that captured the attention of the general public. Wrestler Hulk Hogan even ripped his jersey on stage, as if to mark the contrast between Trump’s strength and Biden’s weakness.
But now the tables are turned. If elected, at age 78, Donald Trump would become the oldest U.S. president in history.
Joe Biden presented himself as a bulwark against the danger posed by Donald Trump. This line of attack served him well in the 2020 presidential election and the 2022 midterm elections.
It is true that Trump is a fraudster, a sexual assaulter, a convicted felon and a compulsive liar who attempted to influence the outcome of the last election, leading to the storming of the Capitol, the ultimate symbol of democracy.
But voters don’t just want to vote against Donald Trump. They also want to vote for an inspiring candidate who carries an exciting message.
Already, we felt Kamala Harris carrying this message, speaking of the positive record of Joe Biden who can indeed be proud of his accomplishments, whether in the fight against climate change or the economy. Desperate by inflation, households do not realize enough that American economic growth is the envy of the planet.
Abortion is another critical issue that Democrats can increase their focus on. During his first term, Donald Trump appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court, helping to overturn the ruling Roe v. Wade and undermined women’s right to control their own bodies. A second term could lead to other appointments that would transform the country for decades.
American politics is much more than a spectacle. But Democrats must seize the opportunity that Joe Biden has finally given them to shine a spotlight on their party and shine a spotlight on all the talent and ideas that lie within their ranks.