Biden won the Democratic nomination for president in 2020 because Democrats believed that, among all the candidates running in the primaries, he had the best chance of defeating Donald Trump. This year, Democrats held no meaningful primary elections offering a choice of candidates, and as a result, are about to nominate a candidate whom many, perhaps most, believe no longer has what it takes to defeat Trump.

Biden is unlikely to change his mind about seeking another four year term. But if he did, his leaving the race would not harm, and probably help, the Democratic Party’s chances in the fall. Thanks in large part to the efforts of House leaders Nancy Pelosi and Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the various factions of the Democratic Party have worked together remarkably well over the past few years. If Biden were to withdraw, these experienced leaders, along with leading progressives such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, would largely determine the path to the nomination.

Vice President Kamala Harris or any candidate who could clearly articulate the Democratic Party’s plans for the next four years versus those of Trump’s Republican Party would do. The Democratic Party’s plans, especially concerning taxation, single-payer health insurance, and the climate, should be more progressive. But with the Supreme Court firmly in Republican hands, persuading a wide range of voters to keep Republicans out of the White House and reduce their numbers in Congress is job one, the action that makes future progress possible.

David Glassberg

Amherst