US President Joe Biden’s faltering performance in the CNN debate with Republican rival Donald Trump on Thursday sparked growing calls among Democrats to withdraw his candidacy in next November’s presidential election. “Parties exist to win”a veteran party strategist told the New York Times. “This man on stage with Trump cannot win.”
Since the Democratic primaries are already over and Joe Biden has enough support to be sure of his candidacy for the presidential election, the choice to withdraw is entirely his. Only then can the Democrats present another candidate.
The Democratic convention to be held in Chicago in August could then be an opportunity for voters to nominate another candidate. Organizers would have to collect what are called “floor votes” on site and several rounds of voting would probably be necessary to put another candidate in the running.
The last time Democrats chose a candidate this way was in 1960, when John F. Kennedy got more votes than Lyndon B. Johnson at the convention.
Immediately after the debate, speculation was rife about who might take over from Mr. Biden. Vice-President Kamala Harris was cited, but also California Governor Gavin Newsom, his Illinois counterpart JB Pritzker and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
“I think we did well.”said Joe Biden during a stop at a restaurant in Georgia (southeast) on Thursday evening, affirming that he is “hard to argue with a liar”.
The president is also heading back to the campaign trail on Friday. The 81-year-old Democrat headed to North Carolina on Thursday evening for a rally in the southeastern state that he believes he can swing in his favor in November, and where he will be accompanied by his wife Jill. He will then go to raise funds in New York and then to the Hamptons, a very chic resort area not far away.
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