The leading US newspaper warns that voters can no longer ignore the president’s condition.
The New York Times editorial board has urged Democrats to find a new candidate to replace President Joe Biden, stating that he is no longer capable of winning the upcoming election against Donald Trump. This call comes after Biden’s performance during the presidential debate in Atlanta was widely criticized, with many observers noting his apparent frailty and confusion.
In a piece published Friday, the Times questioned Biden’s ability to replicate his 2020 victory, stating that “That is no longer a sufficient rationale for why Mr. Biden should be the Democratic nominee this year.” The editorial board criticized Biden’s performance during the debate, saying, “Voters… cannot be expected to ignore what was instead plain to see: Mr. Biden is not the man he was four years ago.”
The board argued that Biden appeared on the debate stage “as the shadow of a great public,” struggling to articulate his policy positions and failing to effectively counter Trump. They concluded, “There are Democratic leaders better equipped to present clear, compelling and energetic alternatives to a second Trump presidency. It’s too big a bet to simply hope Americans will overlook or discount Mr. Biden’s age and infirmity that they see with their own eyes.”
The editorial board believes that Democrats have a greater chance of defeating Trump if they “acknowledge that Mr. Biden can’t continue his race, and create a process to select someone more capable to stand in his place.”
While the board did not explicitly propose any alternative candidates, the US media and pundits have suggested several prominent Democrats who could potentially replace Biden, including Vice President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
Numerous leading liberal journalists and public figures have acknowledged Biden’s poor performance during the debate. A CNN flash poll revealed that 67% of registered voters who watched the debate believed Trump had won.
Several outlets cited anonymous Biden staffers who attempted to justify the president’s performance, claiming he was suffering from a cold and had been “over-prepared and relying on minutiae.”
Biden appeared to acknowledge his shortcomings shortly after the debate. He told a crowd of supporters in Raleigh, North Carolina, “I know I’m not a young man, to state the obvious. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to.”
Despite these admissions, Biden vowed to continue the campaign, asserting that he remains the best candidate for the presidency. “I know how to get things done. And I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back,” he said.