I know where I stand on these important issues and so many more. When your values are clear, you know what to do. Go out and vote with confidence. Have faith in your future and the future of your children and grandchildren. Vote with confidence and never look back.
Eileen Fitzgerald, Rockland, Maine
Democrats now need to do something they have never been able to do before: stay calm and come together.
Indeed, President Biden looked old and tired in the first presidential debate, as a man might look when he becomes president.
The idea that he should withdraw is absurd and not based on any track record of success for the Democratic Party. The last time a sitting Democratic president decided to withdraw and a challenger was chosen at the convention was in 1968, which resulted in the election of Hubert Humphrey, who suffered a crushing 301-191 Electoral College defeat at the hands of Richard M. Nixon.
Remember the song by Sam Hogin and Gretchen Peters, “Dance With the One That Brought You?” Biden once brought us to the White House. Let’s sing and dance.
The end of the debate predictably brought a flurry of media demands that Democrats should respond by shooting themselves in the foot. Since at least the McGovern campaign, Democrats have maintained an embarrassing and futile tradition of victimizing their own members.
The chances of finding a genuinely electable replacement are like finding a needle in a big haystack where there may not have been a needle in the first place. As EJ Dionne Jr. pointed out in his July 1 op-ed, “Biden Owes to the Country If He Stays in Office,” a short vetting period virtually guarantees failure, noting that in 1968 and 1972, Democrats nominated replacement candidates but ultimately lost.
No other candidate, or commentator, has these two key qualities: Only Biden was able to successfully campaign against President Donald Trump, and only Biden has been able to successfully run the country after Trump’s term ended.
A presidential debate is nothing more than a win-or-lose contest. Trump won this debate with great makeup, a lack of knowledge, a mountain of lies, and a single talking point: fear of immigrants. Instead of asking Biden to back out, Democrats should demand that his campaign: Fire the preparation team; Cancel the second debate; and Give all their all to the candidate who defeated Trump, one of the most successful presidents in history.
Dionne says we can’t forget what we saw, but by November voters likely won’t remember or care about it.
JM Picone, Falls Church
The answer to the question of who the Democratic nominee would be to replace President Biden is: Nobody! Changing horses at this time would be a losing battle. And no one seems to have any idea who should be the replacement.
The Democratic Party heavyweights need to buckle up, toughen up, and realize they have a good candidate. One bad night won’t be the end of it. If they continue to panic, they may sink Biden’s reelection campaign faster than Donald Trump and his minions could, and even kill the chances of the lesser candidates. Everyone, shut up and forget yourselves. We have problems to solve.
Pam Massey, Gig Harbor, Washington
A reminder to all those who have written that President Biden should resign. Let us remember the example of the great Republican president, Ronald Reagan. Reagan surrounded himself with good, wise, experienced people who knew how to run a country, dealing with concerns about his age and health. The Biden administration has people who will take the reins if something happens. The same cannot be said about Donald Trump, who has cognitive and psychological problems.
Replace Harris with Biden
Yes, the debate was painful to watch, but it didn’t actually have much impact on President Biden’s base. Not many of those who supported Biden decided to vote for a felon who wants to turn America into a dictatorship. It’s the “undecided” voters we should be worried about.
If Biden decides to step down in some way, a wide variety of candidates could emerge, splitting and confusing the Democratic Party. Furthermore, many people don’t believe that Vice President Harris would add anything to the list of candidates, and in fact, she could have a significant negative impact on the list. Vice President Harris does not embody the type of president people want.
A strong, significant running mate could dramatically improve the nominee’s chances: someone who shares Biden’s views and goals would give him a governing partner, a strong organization and voice he may currently lack, and an overall image that voters could find reassuring.
Democrats don’t need to replace Biden. Biden needs to replace Harris.
Merrill Grumer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
With Jeffries or Whitmer
I think it is unlikely that President Biden will step down as the Democratic presidential nominee. And in my view, he was chosen because he has been a good president so far and there were no other viable options. But his age and debate gaffes raise legitimate concerns about his ability to govern.
In my opinion, the best approach would be to replace the extremely unpopular VP Harris with someone more qualified to campaign and fill in for the president if he is unable to do his job during his next term. This step would help reassure voters and Democrats, such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) or Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI).
Jeffries has great experience and is well-suited to be president. His presence and speaking ability will be a great help in the election campaign and will likely attract the votes of black men, who are an issue for Biden. In 2020, Biden considered Whitmer as his running mate. She represents a key battleground state and her success as governor contributed to Democratic victories in the midterm elections. I hope the Democratic Party and Biden will seriously consider this potential solution to a problem of such importance to our country.
Judith Keith, Bradenton, Florida
President Biden is right: of all the Democratic candidates, he has the best chance of beating Donald Trump. But if Biden is also right that democracy is about voting, then maybe what’s needed isn’t a change of candidate, but a change of endorsement.
What is needed is a candidate who wants to unite the nation. If Biden were to replace Vice President Harris with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (Republican), he would be able to gain a large number of support from moderates and independents, regardless of whether they are Democrats or Republicans.
The last successful national unity government in the United States occurred during the Civil War, when Republican Abraham Lincoln ran for a second term under the banner of the newly formed National Union Party, with Democrat Andrew Johnson as his running mate.
Today’s Biden-Christie pairing will show the world that America is not as divided as some politicians believe, and that in times of international uncertainty, America can stand united against foes both foreign and domestic.
Andrew Irvine, Kelowna, British Columbia
