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By: EMMANUEL ROY
A growing number of Democrats, including Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Senate Majority Leader, and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), the House Minority Leader, are urging Joe Biden to quit his campaign for re-election and make way for a younger contender after a series of embarrassing gaffes and stumbling performances, most notably his recent debate performance.
Concerns have escalated recently, with the president attracting criticism from politicians, donors, insiders – and Telegraph readers. In an exclusive poll conducted by The Telegraph, 88 percent of over 73,000 voters believe Mr Biden should stand aside.
Earlier this week, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries met with Biden to discuss the polls and to ask him to consider stepping aside. As speculation abounds over a potential replacement for Biden, three democrats must deal with who shall be the replacement. In recent poll about which Democrat they think could beat Donald Trump in the presidential election, Michelle Obama came out on top with 59 percent of the vote; 23 percent of nearly 38,000 voters opted for ‘none of the above’; and Gavin Newsom trailed with 6 percent of the vote.
It comes as a Reuters and Ipsos survey showed the former first lady, 60, would beat Trump by 10 points, with no other possible candidate beating the former president.
While many readers see Mrs Obama as a strong potential replacement for Mr Biden owing to her intelligence, values, and age, she remains a polarising figure. Others voice concern over her lack of experience.
About Biden, Elizabeth Watts, a Democrat, shared this sentiment: “I feel truly sad and sorry for Joe Biden, but he is letting his ego get in the way of his country’s best interests. “He believes that he alone can win in November. Democrats will overwhelmingly vote for whoever is their nominee. Kamala Harris is by no means ideal, and a poll showed her with higher numbers than Joe Biden. It would be elder abuse to let this man take on another four years.”
Reader Irene Tuckett explains why she wants to see Mrs Obama become president: “I admire her for her intelligence and values. I am sure she would not stand if she did not believe it was the right thing to do. She has plenty of other worthwhile projects in her life.
She adds: “In spite of the naysayers, it is a fact that America is in dire need of a viable presidential candidate who is neither a failing old man nor a deluded egotist.”
Another anonymous reader describes the positive impact of having Mrs Obama as president: “She would bring some energy, good sense and honesty to the office”.
Similarly, John Anderson believes the former first lady would be “good for the White House” as she would negate the “Trump threat” and unite a divided US. “She has relative youth on her side and she might begin to heal wounds for a large segment of the American population, black or white.”
However, Huw Jenkins criticizes Mrs. Obama’s theoretical candidacy for not being “based on her own merits” but that “her prominence is solely due to her husband.”
He continues: “It’s as if we had a prospective prime minister based on being married to a former prime minister, we’d find that extraordinary.”
Reader Duncan Maggs highlights why this makes her unqualified to hold the office: “An intelligent woman though she undoubtedly is, Michelle Obama does not to my knowledge have any experience of governing at even local or state level in the US, so does not seem a sensible option.”
Biden’s recent diagnosis of Covid-19 could be an opportunity for him to bow out gracefully by citing a medical reason. Will he? Or will he take the party down with him?
