With a maneuver tried under Roosevelt, Joe Biden could still beat Donald Trump in the US presidential election - despite his disastrous televised debate performance.
"True Horror Show" - that's how the ZDF correspondent in Washington, Elmar Tevesen, calls the TV debate between the two candidates for the US presidency, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Everyone saw how Biden, with a tortured, and at times completely expressionless expression on his face, tried in vain to stir up his unhelpful memory. Against this background, calls for him to withdraw his candidacy or even resign as president seem logical and reasonable, according to the public German media.
The mistake of 1968
But according to Tevesen, who is a media expert on US affairs and security policy, there could hardly be anything more foolish than for Democrats to now repeat the mistake of 1968. Then President Lyndon B. Johnson lost his party's primary in New Hampshire so clearly that an influential politician at the time – Senator Robert Kennedy entered the race against his fellow party member. However, this move threw the party into chaos, and Johnson had to “wind down the sails”. After months of controversy, Vice President Hubert Humphrey emerged as the nominee, but then suffered a crushing election defeat to Republican Richard Nixon.
To prevent something like this from happening again, Democrats should open their eyes to the most important message from debate night: that the incumbent may have performed disastrously, but his opponent cannot offer absolutely no political concept, not a single positive argument, just lies, innuendo and threats of revenge mixed with outright nonsense.
A more promising option
With this endless void in Donald Trump's campaign platform, it's obvious that another Democratic candidate could beat the Republican – possibly even easier than the aging incumbent, who until now was seen as the only viable option. But Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and other top Democrats whom Biden trusts must now convince him that there is a second, much more promising option: Trump being defeated with Biden's help, but without Biden himself to be a candidate for the presidency. The president must continue his campaign until the Democratic convention in Chicago in mid-August, where their candidate for the election will be officially nominated.
Until then, polls will show whether he can recover from his televised debate debacle. By then, the party's sociologists will know, and from confidential surveys, who other than Biden would have a good chance of defeating Trump. As possible candidates to handle this task, the ZDF correspondent mentions three governors: Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro and Maryland's Wes Moore.
Biden to call for the selection of a new pair of candidates
The ZDF journalist recalls an episode from the summer of 1944. At the Democratic convention, presidential candidate Franklin Roosevelt made it clear that he probably would not live to serve another term. Therefore, he suggested that the delegates find a new vice presidential candidate who would be able to take over the presidency at any time. After four days of controversy and chaos, the Democrats nominated Harry Truman, who after Roosevelt's death - just a few months after his inauguration - succeeded him as president.
Biden will have to take one more step: ask himself to withdraw his candidacy and then call on delegates to nominate a new presidential pair. This may cause drama again, but it will only last a few days, and eventually the party will be forced to unite. Thus, among other things, the dilemma with Kamala Harris will be avoided, as the current vice president cannot automatically become the new number one, explains the German media.
Too Left to Beat Trump
If Biden steps down from the presidency before the party convention, Harris cannot be overlooked and will have to take over the presidency. However, all polls indicate that Donald Trump would win the election by a landslide if Harris is the Democratic nominee, as she is too left-wing to take on Trump.
A new pairing of younger candidates, such as Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, who is white, and Wes Moore, who is black, would have a better chance against the 78-year-old Republican nominee, who two-thirds of voters also consider too old. A move like Roosevelt's could ensure continuity for the most successful economic and social policy since Lyndon Johnson, commented Elmar Tevesen. Thus, on January 20, 2025, Biden will be able to pass the baton to the younger generation, and he retired in a well-deserved retirement, having managed to save America from Donald Trump. He just has to ask for it, notes ZDF in conclusion.