Dear Editor,

When Joe Biden was elected US president in 2020 many assumed he would be a one-term president due to his age. It was expected that this would give the Democrats enough time to plan strategically and make way for a suitable candidate who would succeed him in time for the next election.

This never happened and Biden clung to the presidency even when those closest to him told him it wasn’t working and he should step down — a fact which showed in the polls.

The last presidential debate was very telling and still Biden resisted, saying he was fit and ready and cited many reasons for his lacklustre debate performance, which at times left many wondering what exactly he had said.

One of the best lessons I learnt early in life is knowing when it is time to leave: whether it is a party, a relationship or friendship, a job, or even a career. We all have that intuition, knowing deep down when it is time to leave, when we’ve had enough, done enough, when there is little else to achieve or do, when a situation no longer serves us, and just knowing when it is time to move on. The worst thing is to wait until we are asked to leave, especially if we know we should’ve left already.

Biden didn’t listen to himself , and at 81 he became incoherent and mentally and physically unfit for the rigorous demands of the job. The online memes which followed were funny, yet sad. I saw one in which he was knocking on a wall as reporters kept telling him it is not a door, he responded defiantly with “Delaware” (his home state). Biden’s reluctance to step down until the last minute might cost his party dearly.

The other thing Biden and the Democrats didn’t do was to adequately prepare a successor. Vice-President (VP) Kamala Harris largely remained in the background, unlike other VPs who were high profile, visible, and had achievements with programmes and initiatives one could easily align with their tenure. It will be an uphill battle for Harris to prove she is competent and win votes. A woman usually has to work twice as hard as a man, more so if she is a woman of colour. Trump says Harris is less competent than Biden, which might explain why she usually trails Trump in polls, although a few polls have her on par with the former president. She has only a few months left to put in the work.

Harris is much younger than Trump, she will need to attract youth voters who are effective on social media. Her biracial roots and gender could appeal to African Americans and people of colour and women. Her VP pick is critical; however, I don’t think she will pick a woman or a person of colour. Could it be Pete Buttigieg? Buttigieg the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, currently serves as US Secretary of Transportation and he has been supportive in campaign fund-raising. He is a Rhodes scholar, served in the military and fought in combat in Afghanistan; he also ran as a presidential nominee in 2020 and gained much support. Buttigieg is openly gay, which was not an issue when he was elected twice as mayor in a state which is conservative.

A divisive fight for the Democratic nominee might not be in the best interest of the Democratic Party, given the short time to the elections. Harris, who is a former Attorney General and senator, must run on experience, intellect, and competence, and her VP must help to broaden the base. To some she may not be ideal, but what is the alternative?

Another term as president under Trump could mean many things, including uncertainties and risks. Someone messaged me shortly after hearing news of Biden’s withdrawal: “Yes, Trump…USA President for Life!” I was startled initially. I can see Trump positioning himself and his family to create a dynasty of successive Trump rule. There is also the possibility Trump could pardon himself to evade legal troubles. The impact on world politics and economies cannot be denied.

It will be interesting to see how American voters respond.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com