In a startling turn of events, The New York Times Editorial Board has urged President Joe Biden to step down from the 2024 presidential race after his recent performance in CNN’s presidential debate.
The board’s opinion piece, published on Friday, harshly criticized Biden’s handling of the debate and questioned his ability to serve effectively in a second term.
“The president appeared on Thursday night as the shadow of a great public servant. He struggled to explain what he would accomplish in a second term. He struggled to respond to Mr. Trump’s provocations. He struggled to hold Mr. Trump accountable for his lies, his failures, and his chilling plans. More than once, he struggled to make it to the end of a sentence,” the board wrote.
The editorial suggested that the best course of action for Biden would be to announce his withdrawal from the race, allowing other Democratic leaders a chance to step forward.
“The greatest public service Mr. Biden can now perform is to announce that he will not continue to run for re-election. As it stands, the president is engaged in a reckless gamble. There are Democratic leaders better equipped to present clear, compelling, and energetic alternatives to a second Trump presidency,” the board stated.
The piece argued that it was too risky for the Democratic Party to rely on Biden’s re-election, citing concerns over his age and performance.
“There is no reason for the party to risk the stability and security of the country by forcing voters to choose between Mr. Trump’s deficiencies and those of Mr. Biden. 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.”
However, the board did note that if Biden remains the Democratic nominee, he would still receive their unequivocal support over former President Donald Trump.
The Biden campaign responded to the editorial’s critique.
“The last time Joe Biden lost the New York Times editorial board’s endorsement, it turned out pretty well for him,” Biden campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond told CNN, referencing the 2020 endorsements of Senators Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren over Biden.
Biden’s debate performance has raised concerns among top Democrats, with some questioning his viability as the party’s standard-bearer.
“He seemed a little disoriented. He did get stronger as the debate went on. But by that time, I think the panic had set in,” said longtime Democratic operative and CNN senior political commentator David Axelrod.
During the debate, Trump made several misleading statements and attacked Biden’s record on immigration and the economy. Biden, on the other hand, struggled to articulate his broader strategy on key issues, particularly immigration, a point which Trump capitalized on, asserting that the only jobs Biden had created were for illegal immigrants.
The president’s defense of undocumented immigrants came late in the debate, suggesting they contributed to the nation’s economic success.
However, his delivery on several points appeared muddled, failing to counter Trump’s rhetoric effectively.
As the debate’s fallout continues to reverberate, the Democratic Party faces a critical decision on whether to back Biden for a second term or seek a new candidate to challenge Trump in the 2024 election.