# 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:** 29
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/563 "2024-11-08T13:49:56Z")
It’s delusional to think Biden could’ve beaten Trump this time around. I watched the man sit slackjawed in a daze, gazing off into the distance, while Trump mopped the floor with him. There was no coming back. Had Biden stayed in, Trump would’ve hounded him endlessly for followup debates that he couldn’t deliver. As evidenced by Trump’s complaints about the nominee switch, Trump knew the truth that he defeated Biden in July. This is inarguably true. In hindsight the Dem establishment buried Biden’s age weakness for way too long. It was too easy to say “look at him, he’s often spry and lucid, he’s ran an amazing administration, your guy babbles like a monkey on speed”. The denial was too deep for too long. I’d have supported Harris earlier. Biden should’ve resigned after midterms so Harris could build up incumbent cred and an actual record, instead of being a blank slate to project all Biden’s failures. People would’ve bought “Kamala fixed the Biden inflation”. Maybe she’d have shown better leadership standing up to Netanyahu’s genocide. That still may not have been enough. But looking at the momentum she built in just 3 months, I feel like she could’ve done better with a longer runway. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/564 "2024-11-08T18:41:12Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Biden should’ve resigned after midterms so Harris could build up incumbent cred and an actual record This is something I’ve never considered, but that would have been a great idea. Would it have made a difference? Hard to say, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/565 "2024-11-08T18:46:14Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Politico article yesterday showcasing Democratic anger against Biden. Basically, Biden’s ego led him to run for reelection when he shouldn’t have, and to drop out far later than he should have - thus kneecapping Harris from the start. I expect more of this infighting, as the Democratic Party tears itself apart. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/566 "2024-11-08T20:03:13Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I expect more of this infighting, as the Democratic Party tears itself apart. Yeah. Decent shot there’ll be a third party. And a fourth party, and a fifth or sixth, as the Democrat remnants fight over the now useless title of Moral Conscience of America. I have trouble seeing how the traditional 2-party system recovers from this. I have no idea what the successor will be, but I do not see self-correction in the cards. It’ll be ugly and it’s going to hurt in ways we can scarce imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/567 "2024-11-13T03:40:29Z")
To me it’s sad that Biden’s activities have been generally whited out after the election. I know it’s almost always been that way with lame-duck politicians. Historically he may be passed over like the others. I most appreciated his hot mike moments and his stutters; I would have both the same habits myself ---
**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:** [November 13, 2024, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/568 "2024-11-13T13:46:37Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Harris could build up incumbent cred But don’t people generally vote against incumbents even more strongly? She had to weave between being a “new face” and an “experienced hand.” So just go all in on the one side? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/569 "2024-11-13T14:15:46Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > But don’t people generally vote against incumbents even more strongly? She had to weave between being a “new face” and an “experienced hand.” So just go all in on the one side? Generally incumbents have an advantage. That’s why most Presidents are 2-term Presidents. Though in this case, it’s looking more and more like that wouldn’t have applied in this case. For whatever reason, voters failed to register that Biden then built the best economy the country ever saw. Instead they blamed him for the inflation from before that period. Enough of it rubbed off onto Harris to discourage some from voting for her. So I was wrong on this count, building an incumbent record probably wouldn’t have helped Harris, as this time incumbency was a penalty that seems to have been applied to her even though she was only VP. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/570 "2024-11-13T17:28:12Z")
Incumbents have been losing bigly all over the world this time around. Here is an article on Vox. Searching _world incumbents turned out_ also gets hits on Newsweek, CNA in Asia, and CNN. > **[The global trend that pushed Donald Trump to victory](https://www.vox.com/2024-elections/383208/donald-trump-victory-kamala-harris-global-trend-incumbents)** > > Incumbents everywhere are doing poorly. America just proved it’s not exceptional. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/571 "2025-05-13T22:34:24Z")
I just saw in a crawl on CNN that in an upcoming book by Jake Tapper, he states that some of Biden’s cohorts were going to insist he use a wheelchair for public appearances, and that in early 2024, he did not recognize George Clooney at a fundraiser where he was known to be appearing. Yeah, I believe it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/572 "2025-05-14T03:45:23Z")
Here’s a gift link to the NYT book review of _Original Sin_ (stupid title). In summary: The signs were so obvious, according to all the anonymous people they spoke to. A Damning Portrait of an Enfeebled Biden Protected by His Inner Circle [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/books/review/originial-sin-jake-tapper-alex-thompson.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.HE8.7vUh.nLpFYlJi5v-F&smid=nytcore-android-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/books/review/originial-sin-jake-tapper-alex-thompson.html?unlocked_article_code=1.HE8.7vUh.nLpFYlJi5v-F&smid=nytcore-android-share) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/573 "2025-05-14T04:45:12Z")
In the meantime, a nodule was found in his prostate. That sounds a bit ominous. > **[Small nodule found in Joe Biden's prostate during recent physical](https://abcnews.go.com/US/small-nodule-found-joe-bidens-prostate-recent-physical/story?id=121743026)** > > A small nodule was found in former President Joe Biden’s prostate after “a routine physical exam," a spokesperson confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/574 "2025-05-14T05:12:17Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > A Damning Portrait of an Enfeebled Biden Protected by His Inner Circle I wonder how long it will be before all these people are called to testify for the “greatest cover-up in history” trial? It will work well as a compliment to the investigations into the 2020 election. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/575 "2025-05-14T19:18:29Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I just saw in a crawl on CNN that in an upcoming book by Jake Tapper, he states that some of Biden’s cohorts were going to insist he use a wheelchair for public appearances, and that in early 2024, he did not recognize George Clooney at a fundraiser where he was known to be appearing. > > Yeah, I believe it. I dont. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/576 "2025-05-14T20:32:07Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > he did not recognize George Clooney at a fundraiser where he was known to be appearing. I mean, not recognizing George Clooney has apparently been a thing with movie-goers, why not the President? [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54520148530_611fdbd802_z.jpg "Clooney") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/68782016@N08/54520148530/) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/577 "2025-05-14T23:36:45Z")
Small prostate nodules are common in older men, and often have minor health consequences. Depending on the details, the recommended “treatment” is often “watchful waiting”, aka, do nothing but check it from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/578 "2025-05-15T02:01:43Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > the recommended “treatment” is often “watchful waiting”, aka, do nothing but check it from time to time. As they told my grandfather, “these things were going to kill you eventually, but at your age more likely something else is going to kill you first”. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/579 "2025-05-15T02:10:31Z")
I heard somewhere that essentially all 90 year old male corpses that are autopsied have prostate cancer, and it usually had zero impact on the person’s life. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/580 "2025-05-15T02:31:35Z")
All of that is true, although we do have this ongoing thread for men who are on the less fortunate end of that spectrum. > [@So I have prostate cancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-prostate-cancer/804035): > > Just diagnosed. T1c, gleason 7 (3+4). It’s apparently contained so I’m told very curable. However, treatment can (note the qualifier) leave a man permanently impotent and can cause permanent urinary incontinence. In fact as I understand it, you get both for sure then maybe recover. Or not. Obviously I need to find a surgeon (if I do surgery) or oncologist (if I opt for radiation instead) with a lot of experience and a track record of good outcomes. I have no idea how I’m going to do that. I’m g… ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/581 "2025-05-15T02:56:06Z")
Yeah, but it’s like breast cancer. The younger you are when you are diagnosed, the more aggressive and dangerous the cancer is likely (note qualifier) to be. I don’t think most women over 75 need to [get screened for breast cancer](https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cancer/screening/index.html), for similar reasons. And if you happened to find a small lump in your breast at age 82, it wouldn’t really be cause for alarm. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540/582 "2025-05-15T21:02:44Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Small prostate nodules are common in older men, and often have minor health consequences. Depending on the details, the recommended “treatment” is often “watchful waiting”, aka, do nothing but check it from time to time. Yep, very common, In fact if you get to 70 and you (as a male) dont have any issues with your prostate- count yourself among the lucky few. For my cancer it was spotted when i was sixty and pretty darn healthy, so i had the procedure- which was outpatient surgery. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-biden-dropping-out-of-race/1004540.md?page=30)