# President Biden Dropping Out of Race **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** kamala-harris\ **Created:** [July 21, 2024, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540 "2024-07-21T18:05:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/443 "2024-07-25T17:25:39Z")
What is helping me a little is the coming timeline. We have a little Olympic break where people feel good about the country 8/7-We have a VP nominee and the formal virtual nomination which will help the Harris campaign 8/19-8/22-Democratic convention. 9/10-Potential second debate. I am confident that this will help Harris. 9/18-Trump sentencing in New York case. Too light a sentence may galvanize Democrats. Jail time might worry swing voters and independents. (Sentencing makes the convictions more “real”). There is also the risk of stirring up the MAGA crowd more. I still call it a plus for Harris. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/444 "2024-07-25T17:35:43Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > 9/18-Trump sentencing in New York case. Too light a sentence may galvanize Democrats. Jail time might worry swing voters and independents. (Sentencing makes the convictions more “real”). There is also the risk of stirring up the MAGA crowd more. I still call it a plus for Harris. If nothing else, it will be a reminder just a couple of months prior to the election that, yeah, this guy is a convicted felon. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/445 "2024-07-25T17:43:11Z")
“Trump crime family” - “Fake news! Crooked courts! Biden’s Deep State!” Etc. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/446 "2024-07-25T21:53:27Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > He read slowly and stuttered but did not appear confused. I was thinking, when I heard a bit of his stutter, that as he ages it must be harder and harder for him to manage. I saw Jonathan Miller (UK actor, director, writer, etc.) years ago describe his own struggles with a stutter. It was interesting to hear him describe how much extra effort it required for him to speak without it. I think that makes Biden _appear_ less competent when it’s not really any real reflection on his actual competence/intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/447 "2024-07-26T01:24:40Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > It would be unseemly…not to mention, illegal…to give a campaign speech from the Oval Office. I thought he threaded that needle pretty well. If by illegal, you mean _violates the Hatch Act_, I believe the President and the Vice-President are specifically not covered by it. [Cite from the US Office of Special Counsel](https://osc.gov/Services/Pages/HatchAct-Federal.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/448 "2024-07-26T01:28:31Z")
> [@Hoops](#): > > If by illegal, you mean _violates the Hatch Act_, I believe the President and the Vice-President are specifically not covered by it. I would also point out that apparently, he can do whatever the hell he wants as president if its an official act. Thanks, Supreme Court! ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/449 "2024-07-26T04:53:10Z")
My counter-cite: an episode of The West Wing where Pres Bartlet trudges from the Oval Office to the residence so he can make campaign calls. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/450 "2024-07-27T06:17:26Z")
So is there any chance that the speed, smoothness, and unanimity of the handover was completely organic and/or just lucky? Or does it pretty much demand a lot of behind the scenes work? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/451 "2024-07-27T09:58:17Z")
Yes. No, I’m sure it was organic to some extent. Doubtless they’ve been doing “what-ifs” for awhile and the machinery is there to support her becoming President which would help to some regard. But also a LOT of work. In the morning you’re calling people for Biden. In the afternoon you’re making merch for Harris and vetting VP noms. I don’t envy them. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/452 "2024-07-27T12:34:14Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > > [@Hoops](#): > > > > If by illegal, you mean _violates the Hatch Act_, I believe the President and the Vice-President are specifically not covered by it. > > I would also point out that apparently, he can do whatever the hell he wants as president if its an official act. Thanks, Supreme Court! Also, as we saw during the Trump administration, the Hatch Act is meaningless anyway. How many violations were there? Nobody cares. ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/453 "2024-07-29T12:13:04Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Doubtless they’ve been doing “what-ifs” for awhile I’m interested in what people think was the time-table for “awhile.” When exactly do you think Biden decided he would decline the nomination, and when exactly do you think it was decided that he announce it on Sunday afternoon? The more I look at this, the more I think it was very carefully and craftily planned. I think Biden decided to drop out weeks ago–the first part of his decision, contradictorily enough, was to forcefully deny that he was even considering it, so as to keep the GOP on uncertain footing as to its likelihood. Up til Sunday afternoon, they couldn’t plan on him dropping out because he was furiously denying even thinking about it, and faux-demonizing those Democrats who were suggesting it. He waited, cleverly, until the GOP had had their convention, which they spent denouncing Biden personally, and had selected their VP candidate primarily because of his youth to contrast with Biden, and then he announced. If I’m correct, that he came around weeks before last Sunday, this shows great canniness on his part and the part of his political team. This had the timing of a military operation. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/454 "2024-07-29T12:57:11Z")
> [@GailForce](#): > > I think Biden decided to drop out weeks ago–the first part of his decision, contradictorily enough, was to forcefully deny that he was even considering it, so as to keep the GOP on uncertain footing as to its likelihood. Up til Sunday afternoon, they couldn’t plan on him dropping out because he was furiously denying even thinking about it, and faux-demonizing those Democrats who were suggesting it. He waited, cleverly, until the GOP had had their convention, which they spent denouncing Biden personally, and had selected their VP candidate primarily because of his youth to contrast with Biden, and then he announced. > > If I’m correct, that he came around weeks before last Sunday, this shows great canniness on his part and the part of his political team. This had the timing of a military operation. What follows if you’re incorrect? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/455 "2024-07-29T14:30:09Z")
> [@GailForce](#): > > [I’m interested in what people think was the time-table for “awhile.” I’d have presumed backup plans for Biden’s unexpected death and Harris taking over as the incumbent nominee. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/456 "2024-07-29T16:48:55Z")
> [@GailForce](#): > > The more I look at this, the more I think it was very carefully and craftily planned. You’re willing to give wayyyyy more credit than I do for Machiavellian scheming. I don’t think they’re either that smart or that organized OR, most importantly, that good of actors. I think it was just slightly fortuitous timing. I don’t think Biden planned to drop out until at most a few days before he did. At that point they may have gamed out how best to transition and lined up endorsements to make it smooth. We’ll find out in a year or three when the post-mortem is written for the campaign. But I just don’t see it. ---
**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 29, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/457 "2024-07-29T17:41:35Z")
This might be a bit biased, but all those who thought Biden dropping out would be a disaster should read this – just published today: > Writing for _The Bulwark_, [anti-MAGA conservative A.B. Stoddard] mocks Trump for having his “worst week ever,” as newly released polls show that Vice President Kamala Harris is performing significantly better than President Joe Biden did before he decided to end his 2024 bid for the White House last week. > > “Within days, the vice president had captivated the nation, united her party, upended the campaign, raised record sums, tied up the race in polling, and seen a bounce in her favorability ratings,” Stoddard writes. “In the same stretch of time Trump had backed out of a debate, watched J.D. Vance become a meme, fielded concerns about what a failure it was to pick Vance, and seen his own approval rating erode under Harris’ attacks.” > **['Worst week ever': Anti-Trump conservative mocks sudden change in fortunes](https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2024-campaign-2668832106/)** > > Former President Donald Trump was riding high after the Republican National Convention earlier this month, but anti-MAGA conservative A.B. Stoddard believes he may have spiked the football too early.Writing for The Bulwark, Stoddard mocks Trump for... ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/458 "2024-07-29T17:49:11Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I don’t think they’re either that smart or that organized Yet they were smart and organized enough to do the right thing and unanimously and quickly get behind Harris? I think that’s one reason some think this was planned; remember how terrified everyone was of chaos and a huge convention fight if Biden dropped out. ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/459 "2024-07-29T17:55:39Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > wayyyyy more credit than I do for Machiavellian scheming They were either skilled or lucky, and probably both. I thought"lucky" at first, but have come around to thinking this was so well done, there had to be some clever planning in there as well, and quite possibly a lot of very clever planning. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/460 "2024-07-29T18:01:27Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I think that’s one reason some think this was planned In order for this to have been planned, the Democrats would have to be (a) organized and disciplined, and (b) firmly in control of a simple political message. Therefore, it could not have been planned, because (gestures at decades of Democratic history). ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/461 "2024-07-29T18:47:07Z")
I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat. – Will Rogers ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/462 "2024-07-29T19:30:06Z")
> [@GailForce](#): > > They were either skilled or lucky, and probably both. I thought"lucky" at first, but have come around to thinking this was so well done, there had to be some clever planning in there as well, and quite possibly a lot of very clever planning. I agree with this. I was terrified of a disorganized, chaotic convention. Clearly the Dems got their act together behind the scenes in advance of this move. In the end, I think Democrats do understand that pulling together to defeat Trump in November is the most important thing. Plus Joe Biden is pretty good at rope-a-dope. We may never know, but all signs point to a more organized effort than about which we’re currently aware. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540.md?page=24)