Ladies and gentlemen, gather around for some breaking news from the political arena! The New York Times has published a jaw-dropping opinion piece by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Nicholas Kristof, urging President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. Let’s delve into the details of this explosive op-ed titled “President Biden, I’ve Seen Enough.”
The article hit the internet shortly after Thursday night’s debate, but interestingly, the URL reveals it was pre-written and loaded up on June 25. This raises eyebrows and fuels theories that there’s a coordinated effort to replace Biden as the Democratic nominee.
Kristof starts his piece by acknowledging Biden’s long and commendable public service career, culminating in a successful presidential term. However, he doesn’t mince words, suggesting that Biden should review his debate performance and step aside, allowing the Democratic nominee to be chosen at the convention in August.
Kristof argues that Biden’s age and mannerisms, while perhaps unfair to critique, are likely to deter voters. He believes that Biden remaining in the race increases the risk of Trump reclaiming the White House in January.
“Biden can resolve this by withdrawing from the race,” Kristof writes. He suggests that although there isn’t time for new primaries, Biden could hand over the decision to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Kristof names potential candidates like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo as strong contenders who could defeat Trump.
The piece concludes with a personal touch, as Kristof shares text messages from concerned individuals. One text reads, “Dear God. What are we going to do?” Another fan of Biden’s texted, “It’s imperative we change horses.” Despite these concerns, Democrats have hesitated to voice them publicly, so the decision rests with Joe and Jill Biden.
Kristof’s final plea to the president is poignant: “Mr. President, one way you can serve your country in 2024 is by announcing your retirement and calling on delegates to replace you, for that is the safest course for our nation.”
Speculation has been rife about the Democrats’ planning to replace Biden at or before the convention. One name that frequently pops up is California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has consistently denied any intention to run. However, Newsom’s presence in Atlanta as a surrogate for Biden, coupled with his evasive yet cheerful responses to questions about running, keeps the rumor mill churning.
Governor Gavin Newsom is asked after the debate if he’s going to replace Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee.
Look at him glow 👀pic.twitter.com/HrROFGRi5J
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) June 28, 2024
