# Biden considering dropping out (Update: Biden drops out)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Tags:** trump\
**Created:** [July 3, 2024, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690 "2024-07-03T16:50:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 20

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**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/381 "2024-07-07T01:51:14Z")

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Shut up. Bad drugs are bad.

I don’t give two shits about “Just say No” crap.

You know exactly what I meant.

Hunter Biden was not accused of drinking Coca Cola. Or even smoking a little weed. He was addicted to crack. The whole world knows it.

You’re just picking for a fight.

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**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/382 "2024-07-07T02:01:14Z")

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> [@Biffster](#):
>
> Certainly crack, meth, heroin, ice, crystal, are not good

Unless you have ADD, in which case your doctor might give you a prescription for meth.

> **[Desoxyn Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings &...](https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-9124/desoxyn-oral/details)**
>
> Find patient medical information for Desoxyn oral on WebMD including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings and user ratings.

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**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/383 "2024-07-07T02:08:22Z")

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We can discuss this til the cows come home.  
Its up to the President.  
We can just watch and wait.

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**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/384 "2024-07-07T02:52:43Z")

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This article is solid. Biden is being held to a much higher standard than Trump.

I think Biden looked frail during the debate. That is a far cry from saying he has cognitive deficits. But either candidate might look worse in 2028.

I cannot fathom how his party agreed to debate Trump without fact checking, allowed Biden to travel so much around the time of the debate (the G7 dates must have been known months in advance) or failed to prepare Biden for where to look and what to do when Trump was talking. Didn’t they recall Kennedy-Nixon? The Republicans get behind their candidate, the Democrats tolerate theirs. Trump has stopped discussing Project 2025 so the media largely has as well.

> **[Why is the pundit class so desperate to push Biden out of the race? | Rebecca...](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/06/biden-trump-race-rebecca-solnit)**
>
> Yes, Biden had a bad debate – but so did Trump. The media is once again repeating the mistakes of 2016

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**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/385 "2024-07-07T03:10:00Z")

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I disagree with the entire thrust of that article. It claims that there’s some sort of media conspiracy to attack Biden, and that Trump’s appalling lies and threats in the debate made him a loser, too. No, and no.

The only media that is attacking Biden is the usual right-wing pundits. The sensible media is deeply concerned that Biden can’t win this election, and I think they’re right. As for Trump, yes, he lied his ass off, but the low-information voters inclined to support him don’t know that and wouldn’t care if they did. All that matters to them is that Trump set out to look strong, confident, aggressive, and loud, and he succeeded while Biden was barely audible and sometimes barely articulate. This is not a winning proposition for the Dems or for the country. It’s not Biden’s fault that so many voters are superficial, but they are, and he’ll suffer the consequences.

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**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/386 "2024-07-07T03:33:23Z")

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I agree with a bunch of the article. The media _machine_ guns it for a tidbit, a morsel to feed on. They got a big bite out of the debate. They got everyone het up for the interview last night and in a normal year would’ve been fine. It’s been nit-picked to death.

No one cares why Bidens speech impediment or his sentence structure is weird, even though it is totally how people who stutter communicate, add the exhaustion and I see it.

I agree the case is to win in November. That’s my belief. After that we can see what Biden _does_ not _how_ he speaks.  
There will be time for that.

I agree the idiots who believe Trump are gonna believe him no matter what anyone says.

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**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/387 "2024-07-07T04:01:29Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> Yeah, we have one debate, but that is it

I don’t care if he is in fact frail and slow, or the Energizer bunny because

> [@Velocity](#):
>
> the issue is, what do the voters **think** he is like?
> 
> If he is healthy, spry and active, but the voters think he’s old, decrepit and brain-fogged, they’ll vote as if he is too old. Or they might not even get off their couch to vote for him.

Yeah we have one debate and very little else. That debate wasn’t watched as widely as many other debates but still it is the image of him that voters now have. And they will see “highlights” played over and over and over again.

Assume he is spry and active. He’s acknowledged that even he understands that he needs to get voters believing it. I am a big supporter and I saw what I saw: I don’t believe it. And if I am not believing his is still fully with it is it likely that those less positively predisposed to him do? He needs to convince the voters who won’t be watching many news show interviews or going to rallies. This debate was a big venue that was his chance to do it; obviously mission unaccomplished.

That said _if_ he really _is_ fully energetic then waiting to get a full polling cycle of data in is prudent. “We” and the invested pundits are not the voters who matter. They may not yet be paying any attention and this debate debacle, if truly just an aberration, may not move the needle at all.

I will be surprised if the full cycle of post debate shows only a very slight drop, and shocked if he is able to demonstrate widely his being fully with it, as so many say he is behind closed doors. But I’ve been surprised many times before!

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**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/388 "2024-07-07T04:33:37Z")

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Whenever Democrats say that Biden is sharp behind closed doors, I’m reminded of this SNL skit:

[President Reagan, Mastermind - SNL](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5wfPlgKFh8)

Reagan is a doddering fool in his public appearances, but in private meetings he’s the mastermind of the Iran-Contra deals. If Biden is this sharp behind closed doors, he’ll do fine.

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**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/389 "2024-07-07T05:08:51Z")

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Rumor is that the family is most convinced that he should stay in the race and they are blaming his aides for poor prep. I think that the family may be too close and may not want to acknowledge any deficits. That is why I think that an independent party doing a full cognitive assessment is a must. It doesn’t have to be public and Biden can withdraw by saying it’s clear that the voters want a younger more energetic President without having to admit if he does have dementia.I know that most people are concerned about the election but I am worried about how he will function over the next four years. However, I think he will stay in the race unless his family can convince him to quit.

Meanwhile, there are apparently left-wing conspiracy theorists stating that Trump somehow roofied Biden before the debate.

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**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/390 "2024-07-07T05:16:52Z")

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I wouldn’t put that past the jerk. But surely…

Nope. Not taking anything for granted anymore.

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/391 "2024-07-07T05:38:17Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> But it isn’t. Yeah, we have one debate, but that is it

I’m not sure about that.

A couple of months ago, I was at home during the day, and saw live coverage of some event that Biden was at, along with his wife. He gave a brief statement, maybe three minutes long, to the press which was gathered at the event. He undoubtedly had some speaking points prepared, but there was no teleprompter.

And, honestly, I was shocked at how badly he did. It wasn’t just the usual hesitations that come from his stuttering; he was stumbling over words, and it was sometimes difficult to follow the point he was trying to make.

I’d not ever seen him like that previously, but his performance at the debate was similar, if worse. Given what I saw that day (and apologies, I don’t remember the exact day or event that he was at), I’m not at all convinced that the debate was a one-time “bad night.”

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**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/392 "2024-07-07T05:43:55Z")

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> <https://x.com/PpollingNumbers/status/1809767333054820493>

> <https://x.com/PpollingNumbers/status/1809769892188389694>

The Biden rebound has begun.

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**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/393 "2024-07-07T10:49:30Z")

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> [@wolfpup](#):
>
> Nate Silver has a pretty good track record. A 74% probability of a national disaster of unprecedented proportions isn’t the kind of chance that should be casually shrugged off.

Man, that number jumps out at me. That’s the exact figure, 74%, that Nate Silver’s site had for the probablility of Hilary Clinton winning on election eve, 2016.

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**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/394 "2024-07-07T11:57:03Z")

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> [@wolfpup](#):
>
> In hockey, if one team is just one goal behind and game time is almost up, it’s routine for the trailing team to take their goalie out of the net and put on an extra skater for an all-out attack. It’s a big risk because the net is empty, but they do it because it’s their only chance, and “only chance” is a lot better than the near certainty of losing.

I think this analogy is spot-on. People who call for Biden to stay are only looking at the risk of leaving the net empty. They are not looking at the risk of **not** adding an extra attacker.

Although I would say that, at the moment, the Democrats’ situation is not as dire as that of a hockey team trailing by a goal with only minutes left, but we’ll see as the time gets nearer.

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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/395 "2024-07-07T12:41:53Z")

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**Moderating** : Do not attack other posters outside of the Pit. Attack the post and not the poster also strongly applies here.

We’re still reviewing this post and might elevate to a warning.  
Review is done and this will be a full warning. We talked it over and it appears the modnotes don’t seem to be helping and your behavior is not getting better.

This is a **warning** to not attack posters outside of the Pit. Be aware of where you are and also avoid hijacks and stay on topic, the other problems you commonly have.

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**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/396 "2024-07-07T12:42:03Z")

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> [@Smapti](#):
>
> The Biden rebound has begun.

The have been several polls since the debate, Morning Consult with shockingly positive numbers, others mostly showing drops. It is not generally considered wise to only look at the numbers you want to believe.

That said I am at least surprised it didn’t have a clear overwhelmingly negative impact. The drops were not so big. So far.

Nevertheless Biden is unmistakably behind and now even most of his supporters believe he is too frail for the job (still better than someone who is too Trump for the job). He needs a significant rebound and it is hard for many of us to see the person at that debate as having the energy to deliver that.

Bottom line will be though that if the aggregate of post debate polls continue being overall not catastrophic then the wind is out of the sails of any ship to get him to release delegates.

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**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/397 "2024-07-07T15:05:02Z")

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> [@DSeid](#):
>
> He needs a significant rebound and it is hard for many of us to see the person at that debate as having the energy to deliver that.

I mean if perception of the economy improves that could be enough for him to rebound.

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**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/398 "2024-07-07T15:09:19Z")

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> [@DSeid](#):
>
> The have been several polls since the debate, Morning Consult with shockingly positive numbers, others mostly showing drops.

FWIW, the recent Bloomberg/Morning Consult polls touted here were specifically battleground-state polls as opposed to national polls. I agree that no one should draw definite conclusions from single polls Still, there’s no incongruity with Biden losing points in a national poll while gaining points in a given state’s poll.

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**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/399 "2024-07-07T15:09:51Z")

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P2025 is starting to have an effect in the polls as well I think. So much so that Trump has distanced himself from it.

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**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/400 "2024-07-07T15:18:02Z")

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No incongruity with national polls necessarily, though no specific reason to expect swing states as a group to move the opposite direction than national numbers; definite incongruity with what most of us expected to see.

@DeadTreasSecretaries, do you see that change of perception to be likely to occur? The facts that the economy is actually amazingly good have been in place a while now. Why suddenly will people believe it when they still see prices higher than they used to be?

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