# Biden considering dropping out (Update: Biden drops out) **URL:** \ **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:** 52
**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 12, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1021 "2024-07-12T21:29:44Z")
Yeah I read it again? Nothing that contradicts that the relatively disengaged and less reliable voters are leaning Trump, while Biden’s relative strength is with more engaged voters, including suburban women. The spin in that section is that because of that perhaps Trump _needs_ a high turnout of these less reliable voters. > [@](#): > > Given that disparity, Madrid argued, Trump “needs a high turnout” that pulls in less reliable minority voters, especially Latino men. Trump’s conundrum, Madrid said, is that the belligerent rule-breaking persona that attracts those younger non-White men alienates more of the well-educated White women already trending away from him. The alleged conundrum is that driving up that turnout of the Trump leaning unengaged may further motivated the engaged voters who are already voting against him. Thing is that engaged voting group voting against him are already going to vote. What now they will vote twice? It’s not much of a conundrum. Any case, not seeing _anything unclear_ about which way the disengaged lean. They are mostly currently between Trump or staying home. They are a long way from being not quite Biden yet just needing the imminence of Trump winning to be motivated to come out. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1022 "2024-07-12T21:43:47Z")
I think the real trick to that is to get people to understand that there’s more than the top of the ticket they can vote and have an impact on. Want the library to have more books, or the school to get upgraded, or the road fixed? Go vote yes on the bond issue or mill levy at the bottom of the ballot. Don’t like what the major or city council did? Now’s your chance to get change. Hate (or like) that Congresscritter? Go vote. And while you’re there, you can still decide if you want to leave the top line blank. ---
**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 12, 2024, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1023 "2024-07-12T22:08:23Z")
The problem with that is that such voters won’t understand why it must be Biden, and Biden specifically, to give them better bonds, mill levies, city councils, libraries, highways, school boards or whatever down-ballot Democratic issue they care about. They would ask, “Why couldn’t Candidate Kamala/Newsom/Bullock give us those things as well?” ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1024 "2024-07-12T22:20:52Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > The problem with that is that such voters won’t understand why it must be Biden, and Biden specifically, to give them better bonds, mill levies, city councils, libraries, highways, school boards or whatever down-ballot Democratic issue they care about. The point is that if they’re wavering from even going to vote, you sell them on the hyper local stuff. It doesn’t matter who the President is on that stuff. It can’t matter, because even in the days of pork it would have been at the Congressional level. But the first battle is to get them to the polls, and then get them to consider going ahead to vote the top line as well. ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1025 "2024-07-12T22:22:47Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’m not sure you’ve ever heard Biden speak before. He’s been like that for decades. The pauses sure. Also, the times when he wasn’t articulate because he was asked a complex question and couldn’t provide a quick glib answer. But if you’re saying that in the past he’s been 1) misidentifying world leaders, and 2) misidentifying the Vice President, then that’s news to me. However, the argument that he’s been senile for decades doesn’t fill me with hope on the prospects of his future performance. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1026 "2024-07-12T22:25:41Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > However, the argument that he’s been senile for decades doesn’t fill me with hope on the prospects of his future performance _Nobody_ is making that argument…at least, not about Biden. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1027 "2024-07-12T22:32:38Z")
I heard 6:48 Eastern is when Biden is at his peak. Rumor I think… ---
**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 12, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1028 "2024-07-12T22:36:16Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Nothing that contradicts that the relatively disengaged and less reliable voters are leaning Trump, while Biden’s relative strength is with more engaged voters, including suburban women. > > The spin in that section is that because of that perhaps Trump _needs_ a high turnout of these less reliable voters . Yeah, I think you’re touching on why I can’t buy much into the “_unengaged voters will sink Biden_” arguments – Biden’s opponent needs a relatively high turnout of a cohort that, well, never turns out. Aside from that, unengaged voters aren’t a monolith. A majority may lean Trump, but it’s not like 90% lean Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1029 "2024-07-12T22:41:17Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > And if he somehow manages to win, then the US will have a mentally decrepit person who’s too old to the job as President. This is the point. It’s not just about being on the ball now for the campaign, when his wits should be sharpest (and they aren’t), but how effectively he can actually govern going forward. At this rate of deterioration, how will he be in four years from now, when he’s 85? George knows stuff. Let Kamala have at her; it’s for exactly this kind of situation that he selected her. Trump is afraid of women. ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1030 "2024-07-12T22:43:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > _Nobody_ is making that argument…at least, not about Biden. Au contraire. > [@Smapti](#): > > I’m not sure you’ve ever heard Biden speak before. He’s been like that for decades. Smapti is arguing that Biden’s errors in identifying the right person he’s referring to in important speeches is nothing new. Has Biden been getting world leaders’ names wrong for decades? If so, what was/is the factor for that confusion? ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1031 "2024-07-12T22:45:26Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > But if you’re saying that in the past he’s been 1) misidentifying world leaders, and 2) misidentifying the Vice President, then that’s news to me. However, the argument that he’s been senile for decades doesn’t fill me with hope on the prospects of his future performance. The past really doesn’t matter much. It’s the present that counts. If he’s making pretty obvious misidentifications now, what makes you think that would decrease in the future? He’s done hid time, he served well, but now it’s time to read the room. Hubris is the downfall of many an otherwise great man. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1032 "2024-07-12T22:47:57Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > The problem with that is that such voters won’t understand why it must be Biden, and Biden specifically, to give them better bonds, mill levies, city councils, libraries, highways, school boards or whatever down-ballot Democratic issue they care about. They would ask, “Why couldn’t Candidate Kamala/Newsom/Bullock give us those things as well?” Hubris. Same thing Trump says: only he can do it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1033 "2024-07-12T22:49:11Z")
I am not seeing the word “senile” in that post. ---
**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 12, 2024, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1034 "2024-07-12T22:50:37Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Yeah, I think you’re touching on why I can’t buy much into the “_unengaged voters will sink Biden_” arguments – Biden’s opponent needs a relatively high turnout of a cohort that, well, never turns out. Remember that the context is your expectation that the unengaged voters “will still vote ‘Biden’ when push comes to shove in November.” Your analysis that those will be the voters that push Biden across the line, those who just are not quite Biden _yet_. For the majority, _if_ they vote it will be for Trump. Which is a change in the historical dynamic. They are perhaps not the calvary coming over the hill you imagine them to be? Yes exactly _who_ turns out matters. Low information voters indeed are a diverse lot, only sharing in common a lack of interest to date in paying attention to politics. ---
**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 12, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1035 "2024-07-12T22:51:19Z")
Biden is a stutterer. Stutterers often get names mixed up. Several people in these threads (including myself) have personally attested to this. It’s not evidence of “senility”. A senile Biden wouldn’t be able to hold an hour-long press conference and take open questions on policy. > **[Is Biden’s Stutter Being Mistaken for “Cognitive Decline”? | Nieman Reports](https://niemanreports.org/articles/biden-stutter/)** > > Vice President Joe Biden’s verbal stumbles may be explained not by cognitive problems but by his lifelong battle with stuttering. Journalists should provide that context. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1036 "2024-07-12T22:59:15Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > “The DNC” did not make Biden the nominee nor can they cause him to cease being the nominee. Yep. They do not have that sort of power. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > says one person close to the White House. Unnamed, not actually a West Wing, maybe a reporter? In oither words- no one anyone would listen to if they were named. > [@Smapti](#): > > A senile Biden wouldn’t be able to hold an hour-long press conference and take open questions on policy. Yep. Joe may be old, but he is not senile. ---
**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 12, 2024, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1037 "2024-07-12T23:08:36Z")
I completely agree. My 88 year old MIL isn’t senile either. Still a great stock picker. Watches the news compulsively. Social. I love her dearly. Does tend to repeat stories often and repeat herself in recent years. Not as quick to understand new concepts as she once was. She is not senile but her age still shows. The bar is for winning a presidential campaign is higher than “not senile.” ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1038 "2024-07-12T23:12:06Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > The bar is for winning a presidential campaign is higher than “not senile.” Sure, but many in this discussion _are_ using phrases like “senile” and “mentally decrepit,” so it does gain some relevancy there. Again quoting article: > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > “There’s no way [Biden] can win this election, there’s no way he can prosecute the case against Trump … This makes me wonder about the polls they’re seeing. It feels like this implies something much worse than most of the numbers we see in public. Is it that they, like many here, think that a bare lead or being slightly behind is fatal under these particular circumstances? Are there internal polls that are really bad? ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1039 "2024-07-12T23:14:29Z")
Why do the Biden needs to drop out/resign people, think unengaged voters are going to vote for someone they’ve never heard of/know little about? That makes no sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690/1040 "2024-07-12T23:16:34Z")
Because some assume when running against Trump, name recognition won’t matter; they’ll see “not Trump” and “younger than Biden” and eagerly vote for them when they wouldn’t have been so eager for Biden due to his age and perceived deficiencies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690.md?page=51) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-considering-dropping-out-update-biden-drops-out/1003690.md?page=53)