Reports suggest that former American president, Biden, harbors considerable regret over withdrawing from the presidential race, a decision he believes led to his replacement’s crushing defeat in the elections. There’s a rife belief among his inner circle that he would have delivered a different outcome, overcoming his opponent Donald Trump. Nevertheless, constitutionally, Biden may relish the distinction of being the only political figure who accomplished a national victory over Trump considering the limited pool of Democratic contenders. But this soured victory rings hollow when considering Trump’s robust record of overcoming numerous Republicans, some of whom were the GOP’s leading political forces.
Throughout his political career, Biden saw his ambitions for the presidency foiled not once but twice due to interferences from the Democratic leadership. Both occasions saw him abdicating his aspirations in favor of more ‘appropriate’ candidates – Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Kamala Harris more recently. Unfortunately, both times his withdrawal ended in Trump’s triumph, leading to some introspection and second-guessing on Biden’s part.
Interestingly, Biden’s hunger for the presidency is not short-term, dating back to as early as 1987. When he finally clinched the presidency in 2020, much to his own surprise, it seemed like a heart’s desire realized. However, Biden’s premature exit from the next race due to rocky debates and unimpressive poll numbers is a decision he and his aides are currently challenging.
Sources reveal that those in Biden’s immediate team believe he would have trounced Trump, despite the Democratic party’s efforts to push him out. Yet, Biden has been circumspect about not attributing the electoral defeat to Kamala Harris or her campaign. However, the lackluster stand that Harris took during the election led to suspicion about the capability of her campaign.
Such concerns about her electability led to an awkward pause between Biden’s less-than stellar debate performance on June 27 and his formal announcement of withdrawal on July 21. Regardless of Harris’s perceived failings, Biden threw his support behind her very enthusiastically. This move, correspondingly, debunked hopes of other Democratic aspirants seeking a more democratic selection process.
While it’s true that Biden had a more robust primary performance, this didn’t necessarily translate into a guaranteed win in the general elections. However, his standing among private sector union members would undoubtedly have surpassed that of Harris. Notably both the International Association of Firefighters and the Teamsters withheld their endorsement in the recent elections.
The stance of these unions reflected a wider sentiment among the rank and file. Polls indicated that though they would’ve supported Biden, their preference between Trump and Harris definitely leaned towards the former. The Teamsters deemed Harris arrogant in her handling of them, which only worsened her chances of gaining their endorsement.
The electoral dilemma for Biden would have been activating younger, nonwhite, voters—a demographic Harris also struggled to mobilize. Tracing back to 2022, we find that an overwhelming 94% of Democrats under the age of 30 favored a different nominee as per a survey by New York Times/Siena College.
The team behind Biden’s campaign would’ve been almost identical to the setup Harris had, barring a few names from the Obama camp. Biden’s campaign hinge was purportedly focused on democracy’s protection—a tactic that proved ineffective in Harris’s case. This displayed approach would have landed him in defensive territory concerning the economy, an issue American voters ranked as their topmost concern.
On another front, Biden would have found himself on shaky ground in the traditionally Republican Sun Belt states. A significant defeat in these states, such as Arizona or Nevada, could have discernably swayed the results of the Senate races in the region. Another point for consideration was his age. Approaching 82, Biden’s decision to run might have projected as more of a liability than an assuring factor.
As Donald Trump starts his successive term in the White House, it’s almost certain that the legitimacy of Biden’s withdrawal decision and its impact on the Democratic nominee will be hotly debated. The central question will remain whether Biden’s legacy was detrimental to Harris and any Democratic aspirant who replaced him.
Harris, with her existing struggles in establishing significant distance from Biden, bore the brunt of this legacy. Biden’s close aides, unfortunately, are a sizeable portion of these ‘diehards’, which will inevitably color his legacy henceforth.
In conclusion, the shadow of regret looms large over Biden’s premature exit. Paradoxically, however, his very campaign might have ended up becoming a liability for the Democratic Party – a classic case of ‘could’ve, should’ve, would’ve?’ – and the echoes of these musings will continue to reverberate in the political discourse for years to come.