Democratic strategist Theryn Bond has called for the party to replace Joe Biden, suggesting three potential alternatives. This call follows Biden’s poor performance in Thursday night’s debate with former US president Donald Trump.
Although Biden is only three years and seven months older than Trump, the gap between the 81-year-old incumbent and his 78-year-old challenger appeared much larger during the debate, with Biden making continuous gaffes.
Theryn Bond mentioned California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as possible candidates, but stated that Vice President Kamala Harris is the “most likely replacement.” However, Bond expressed doubts about Harris’s ability to deliver a victory for the party, citing the US’s readiness for a Black woman president.
“Unfortunately, as much as I want the US to be ready for a Black woman to be president, they are not ready,” Bond said to Sky News. “This country is not ready. This country is too divisive, unfortunately. We’re just not there. I don’t think she would be the one to take the Democratic Party to victory.”
Bond warned that without a replacement, the country would be forced to choose between “a convicted felon and somebody in mental decline.” She added, “What we saw was mental acuity being diminished in real time, and that’s very sad when you know what someone’s professional trajectory looks like and then you see a decline in real time.”
When asked at the debate whether he would urge Joe Biden to end his campaign, Newsom said no, appearing to rule out a challenge. David Axelrod, a key adviser behind Barack Obama’s successful presidential campaigns, said Biden wouldn’t be inclined to leave the race. “This is a guy with a lot of pride… who believes in himself,” Axelrod told CNN.
Biden allies have dismissed the idea of change, with potential alternative Governor Gavin Newsom rejecting the notion that the president should end his campaign. However, some Democrats expect calls to oust Biden to grow. “The chatter of replacement is absolutely going to explode,” a veteran Democratic strategist told NBC. “There is no coming back from this disaster.”
