After Biden’s embarrassing performance in Thursday’s debate, Democrats are now openly voicing a concern that they’ve been whispering behind closed doors: Biden’s debate performance has triggered serious doubts about the upcoming November elections. The murmurs aren’t just idle gossip; there’s talk among lawmakers about potentially replacing Biden on the ticket—though such a decision would be fraught with complications and ultimately rests with Biden himself.
Several House Democrats have reportedly been considering a variety of Democratic governors as possible replacements, including Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer and California’s Gavin Newsom. One lawmaker described the mood as “a sense of doom,” stemming from a general agreement that Biden’s performance was disastrous. Many Democrats don’t want Biden to engage in another debate point blank.
In the corridors of power, while no Democrat has publicly called for Biden to step aside, conversations about the necessity of such a drastic move are becoming more frequent. Amidst all this strategic reevaluation, the president’s re-election odds have taken a significant hit, plunging by fifteen points in political betting markets following the debate.
Yet, despite the internal panic and the external pressures, Biden’s campaign remains adamant that he will not withdraw from the race. Campaign spokesman Seth Schuster’s firm declaration that Biden is “not dropping out” underscores a determination to stay the course, even as doubts continue to swirl within his own party about the wisdom of that decision.
Now that the Democrats are finally speaking plainly, it’s undeniable—even to them—that Biden’s cognitive decline was glaringly apparent during the debate, making Trump the indisputable victor of the evening. Yet, despite the declarations from within Biden’s camp that he’s sticking it out, we know the political backrooms are buzzing. Will the Democrats really roll the dice on Biden, whose performance continues to spark concern? Time will tell, but it’s clear they’re playing a risky game with a weak and deteriorating candidate.
