Biden's exit: Democrats' fresh start amid Trump's lead
Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race could allow Democrats to start afresh. "It is a challenge for the Republicans because now they have to 'align' with a new opposing candidate," says the expert.
"This is a chance for the Democrats to start afresh, to unite within the party, and foster greater optimism among voters. We still don't know if Kamala Harris will officially become the Democratic candidate, but today she has the best chance of getting the nomination. And because she differs from Donald Trump in age, gender, and ethnicity, it could be a 'new beginning' in the election campaign," says Dr Tomasz Płudowski, American studies expert and media scholar.
"The Washington Post notes," Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race "plunging the Democratic Party into an unprecedented scramble to choose a new nominee to face former president Donald Trump." According to the newspaper, Biden's withdrawal puts his party in an almost unprecedented situation just a few months before the elections on 5 November. Let's recall that after his resignation, Biden immediately proposed that his Vice-President Kamala Harris be the new candidate in the presidential race.
"Undoubtedly, this is a challenge for the Republican Party because they have to 'align' with a new opposing candidate. They are probably somewhat apprehensive about it. This gives hope for the Democrats to take the initiative. Due to changes within Joe Biden's party, there will be a process of choosing the successor to the American president and discussions about the vice-presidential candidate - this shifts the narrative to their side," says Dr Tomasz Płudowski, American studies expert.
Trump's small lead
In his view, Kamala Harris may attract women to the voting booths.
"But also representatives of ethnic minorities who began to drift away from the Democratic Party under Joe Biden. He lost a lot of young voters, including Latinos and African Americans. Harris's candidacy may reverse this process," he believes.
The latest polls indicate a narrow lead for Donald Trump over Kamala Harris if she becomes the Democratic candidate in the autumn elections. According to an Economist/YouGov survey, Donald Trump enjoys greater support. He can count on 44% of the vote, whereas 39% support Kamala Harris. Kamala Harris also trails Donald Trump in a CBS News/YouGov poll. The Republican candidate garners 51% of the votes, while the Democrat gets 48%.
"In the USA, changes in poll ratings and later in elections are minor, not radical. Remember, who wins the elections is not decided by nationwide support but by key states. And the battle there is still fierce. It's not about fighting for votes across the country; it's about focusing the battle there," assesses Dr Tomasz Płudowski.
In his opinion, a well-conducted campaign, skillfully focusing attention, adopting the language, and discussing topics that stir emotions could reverse the trend.
"Currently, the trend for the Democrats is downward, while it is continuously upward for the Republicans. Joe Biden's resignation might mean taking the initiative. Today, the incumbent president made a mistake by withdrawing so late. He believed in himself too much. And his surroundings probably didn't allow critical voices. He sounded as if he didn't realise his limitations. Then came the CNN debate, which he 'fell flat on.' And let's not forget it was a slow process of declining health," says the American studies expert.
He believes Biden should have let Kamala Harris "spread her wings" as Vice President much earlier.
"He should have 'groomed' her. Even if he won those elections, he might not have completed the entire 4-year term and then would have handed over power to her. And she, until now, had stood in his shadow and didn't have a chance to prove herself. Today, it's unlikely that they will try to put forth another candidate other than Kamala Harris. It would also be difficult to explain to the electorate why someone else should run," concludes Dr Tomasz Płudowski.
