Concerns in the Democratic Camp: Is Biden Stepping Down?

When Time magazine publishes an image of Joe Biden with the headline "Fear" in its latest issue, it indicates that the situation is far from normal for Democrats with about four months left until the U.S. presidential election. Biden's performance in the first debate against Donald Trump has led to a surge of doubts and concerns within the Democratic camp, prompting not only Time but also all American media to discuss the necessity of serious measures to prevent their defeat against Trump. Many analysts have suggested that Joe Biden should withdraw from this race to allow a better candidate to face Trump in the upcoming elections in November. But is such a thing possible? What mechanisms are in place for this? What obstacles lie ahead, and if feasible, who would be on such a list? We intend to answer all these questions in this article. Five points you should know about the first debate between Biden and Trump: According to the complex electoral laws of the United States, a candidate from each party must first win in the primaries and then be officially introduced as the party's nominee at its convention. The usual process is that the sitting president entering the race remains unchallenged and is re-designated as the representative of the Republican or Democratic Party without facing serious challenges during the primaries. However, the Democratic National Convention for this year's election has not yet been held, and Joe Biden has not yet been officially introduced as the nominee of this party. This event will take place from August 19 to 22 in Chicago, and Biden must be approved by Democratic Party representatives to formalize his candidacy. The first debate between Biden and Trump for the 2024 presidential election has taken place, but what complicates Biden's situation is that there is no official mechanism for replacing him with another candidate, and such an action would be unprecedented in modern U.S. history. Formally, Biden has managed to secure the necessary votes for the final Democratic nomination and should be officially introduced as the party's representative in the presidential election during the Democratic convention. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the convention, which essentially has a ceremonial role at this stage, would decide to nominate someone else in place of Biden. This is the hope of many Democrats who were shocked by Biden's performance in the first debate. Almost all American media are speculating on how Biden can be persuaded to withdraw from this race. The editorial board of The New York Times, in an article published last Friday, referred to Biden's poor performance in the debate with Trump and urged him to exit the presidential race. Biden's insistence on staying in the race comes after acknowledging his failures in the debate. The newspaper states that Biden understood well that he needed to address concerns about his health, which is why he decided to hold the debate much earlier than usual; however, ultimately, Biden has failed this test. But does Joe Biden think like The New York Times editorial board? There is no evidence to support such a hypothesis. After the debate, while many in the Democratic Party were concerned about his performance against Trump, he appeared at a speech in North Carolina and intensified his criticisms of Trump in posts on his X account. He also stated, "I don't walk easily like before, I don't debate well, but what I know is to tell the truth, and I know how to distinguish right from wrong." Biden also mentioned that if he were not confident he could do this, he would not have run as a candidate. Many believe that Barack Obama's role is significant in this situation, arguing that he might be able to convince Biden to withdraw; Obama had previously expressed informal concerns about Biden's performance. Some have also speculated that Jill Biden and members of the President's family might be able to persuade him to step back. However, no signs have been seen in that direction either. After the debate, Jill Biden stood beside her husband in a small group of people and tried to present her husband in an emotional and heroic manner as someone who has shone against Trump. Now, let’s assume that extensive consultations led Mr. Biden to consider stepping down; who are his potential successors? The first name that comes to mind is his vice president, Kamala Harris. Ms. Harris has had a relatively neutral and ineffective performance over the past four years, which could pose a serious challenge for her. Poll results indicate that many American voters view Harris as a not very significant and influential vice president who has been more on the sidelines in recent years. Therefore, Harris's presence may ultimately not help the Democrats win. If Biden withdraws from the election, Democrats will need to reach an agreement on a new candidate for an election that will take place in about four months. Other options include Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, a 56-year-old politician who responded somewhat conservatively and cleverly to the question of whether Democrats should consider another candidate after this debate, saying, "I am a traditional politician and care more about the content and facts presented in debates than the controversies about President Biden's energy level." J.B. Pritzker, the 59-year-old Governor of Illinois, is another option who has gained significant popularity due to his efforts for safe and healthy abortions for women in this state and his actions on gun control. Gretchen Whitmer, the Governor of Michigan, who was also on the final list for Biden's vice presidential pick in 2020, is another potential candidate. Additionally, names like Sherrod Brown and Dean Phillips should also be kept in mind. However, all these processes largely depend on whether Biden himself is willing to step back from the scene; an event that does not seem simple, and in contrast to what was seen early Friday morning, his chances of winning against Trump in the November election also appear difficult.