The New York Times today published an anguished statement by its editorial board headlined: “To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Leave the Race.” They bemoan the fact that “the President appeared on Thursday night as the shadow of a great public servant…. More than once, he struggled to make it to the end of a sentence. Mr. Biden has been an admirable President…. But the greatest public service Mr. Biden can now perform is to announce that he will not continue to run for re-election.”
The Times editors say that Donald Trump is dangerous, but Biden can’t stop him. “Democrats who have deferred to Mr. Biden must now find the courage to speak plain truths to the party’s leader…. His dedication to this country leaves him and his party only one choice.… And it is the best service that Mr. Biden can provide to a country that he has nobly served for so long.”
London’s The Economist is far less generous to Biden. A June 28 article, “Joe Biden should now give way to an alternative candidate,” says that “over 90 agonizing minutes, Mr. Biden was befuddled and incoherent—too infirm, frankly, to cope with another four years in the world’s hardest job.… If Mr. Biden really cares about his mission, then his last and greatest public service should be to stand aside for another Democratic nominee.… Mr. Biden’s chances of winning in November have taken a savage knock.… Furthermore, even if Mr. Biden were somehow to win in November, there are doubts that he could govern as he should over a full four-year term.”
