Should Joe Biden Drop Out? Patch Readers Divided In Pulse Survey

ACROSS AMERICA — It has sometimes seemed over the past two weeks as if Americans are eavesdropping on the tug-of-war between adult children and their aging parents over control of the folks’ car keys and bank accounts.

President Joe Biden appeared frail and at times confused in a June 27 debate with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, prompting calls that the 81-year-old president step aside — first by news commentators and editorial boards, but later by some Democratic lawmakers, influential donors and rank-and-file voters.

About two-thirds of respondents to an informal Patch survey say they are worried about Biden’s capacity for another term.

To be clear, this was not a scientific poll. Rather, the overnight survey, which closed at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday, was intended to provide a snapshot of what Americans are thinking about Biden’s candidacy. The survey was delivered by email to Patch newsletter subscribers and promoted on Facebook.

Of 7,042 respondents, 60.8 percent thought Biden should step aside, 37 percent thought he should stay at the top of the Democratic ticket, and 2.2 percent had no opinion.

‘A Story Every Family Has In Spades’

For some readers, the conversation about Biden’s age and cognitive abilities — chief reasons cited by those who called for him to step aside — is all too familiar.

“Denial of age-related issues is a story every family with a geriatric family member has in spades,” a New York Patch reader said. “Some families take the car keys while others are fearful of hurting their aging loved one’s pride and allow their family members to continue on with life, leaving society to watch out for them, hoping nothing bad happens, hoping they don't hit a tree or worse.”

A Rhode Island Patch reader empathizes with Biden as an older American but thinks he should step aside.

“As a senior myself I know it is hard to accept that age sets its own limits on us, and we need to accept when it is time to leave center stage,” the person said. “A younger, energetic, smart, articulate candidate would make a stunning contrast to Trump and there are quite a few that fit that bill in the Democratic Party.”

“It is too stressful,” an Illinois Patch reader said. “He needs to step down with grace a dignity. He is just not capable — not because of age, but because of his actual health. He has served for so long. He deserves respect, not crap.”

“We need younger individuals in the presidency who are competent and can be bipartisan for the benefit of the country,” a New York Patch reader said.

“It’s time to step aside and let younger Dems take the lead,” a New Jersey Patch reader agreed. “It is not enough to hope people will vote against Trump. That’s how we ended up with Trump as President in 2016. And voters don’t vote based on a past record. They choose based on who they think will serve them better going forward.”

“He is too old and shows too many signs of confusion,” a Pennsylvania Patch reader said. “I only see it getting worse, I can only imagine what another four years of aging will do to him.”

However, another Pennsylvania Patch reader who thinks Biden should stay in the race said it is “sad” that “age is the biggest setback for Biden.”

“In reality, with age comes wisdom. However, our society thrives on picking on the vulnerability of the elderly instead of respecting their years of accumulated experience and hardships,” the reader said. “Biden may not be loud and outspoken, but he commands with a quiet, thoughtful and insightful style, and sometimes with a long process result, whereas many want action, now, regardless of consequences.”

‘Saddest I Told You So Ever’

Other readers recalled Biden’s pledge four years ago to act as a “bridge” to future Democratic leaders and serve a single term.

“He ran as a transitional president and has been great, but he is too old,” a New Jersey Patch reader said.

A Massachusetts Patch reader also said Biden should have stood by his pledge to serve a single term to “unite the country.”

“He lied. And divided the country even more,” the reader said. “He’s in bad shape now. In one, two, three, four years, it will get even worse, and it will be dangerous for the U.S. to have a president who isn’t up to the job, physically or mentally.

“There’s no shame in growing old,” the person continued. “But it is shameful for him and his family to think of themselves before thinking of the country. But it’s clear Biden’s ego is massive and, in spite of the hype, I think he has no moral compass.”

“He has not kept his promise,” said a Pennsylvania Patch reader who thinks Biden should step aside. “He now sounds like Trump — ‘I alone can fix this’ and ‘I’m the only one who can beat Trump.’ His ego has gotten in the way of doing what is best for the country. He is not the same person who beat Trump last time; therefore, it is a false conclusion that he can beat him this time.”

“Regardless of age, gender, or party, if any candidate shows symptoms of health issues that would impact their service in office, they owe it to the U.S. citizens to step aside,” a Maryland Patch reader said. “Biden is showing these signs and I do not have confidence that he can fulfill the duties of the presidency.”

A California Patch reader thinks that if Biden doesn’t step down, he will lose to Trump and “take many down-ballot Democrats with him.”

“That would be a disaster we mustn’t allow,” said the reader, who favors an open primary if the president does not step aside. Vice President Kamala Harris “should not be anointed,” the person said.

“He will not win. We need an infusion of talent and excitement – and a competent candidate,”said a Massachusetts Patch reader who favors a ticket headed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, with Harris again running in the No. 2 spot.

“Democracy is at stake. Terror of fascism lies ahead with a second, vindictive Trump presidency,” the person said.

“Joe Biden has been one of the great American presidents,” said a Virginia Patch reader who thinks Biden should step aside. “He should take his legacy while it’s still intact, do a victory lap and then be the statesman I believe him to be and step aside for the good of the country.

“If he stays in, we risk another Trump term, and I don’t think our democracy will survive that.”

A Georgia Patch reader said that while Biden “delivered us from Trump in 2020, he will deliver us to Trump in 2024 if he will not let go of his ego and step aside.”

“I’m 68 years old, a lifelong strong Democrat,” the person said. “If Biden is too stubborn to drop out, it will be the saddest ‘I told you so’ ever.”

‘You Don’t Just Toss That Aside’

A California Patch reader said Biden beat Trump with a decisive popular vote in 2020 and can do so again this coming Election Day, which is Nov. 5.

“Biden has done more for this country than any have done in the last 30-plus years,” the reader said. “You don’t just toss that aside because of a 90-minute debate that went wrong — and while Biden wasn’t at the top of his form, Trump was at the top of his lying, deceit and ramblings.”

An Illinois Patch reader said that while Biden “may have some slight issues with short-term recall, he is still profoundly thoughtful and contemplative of every decision he must make.”

“I believe that this election could profoundly alter the face of the American republic, and its trajectory into the future,” the reader said. “Voters must reject any attempts to centralize political power into one person and any grabs at the liberties and rights of everyone in our country. Also, I believe that if Biden is not elected in this election, this may be the very last election for president we see in this form for a long time.”

A Connecticut Patch reader who doesn’t think Biden should yield to pressure to step aside said he “inherited a deficit and mess from Trump” but “has accomplished more in his presidency than any modern president.”

“Trump has the intention of changing our democracy into an autocracy. He will increase the wealth gap and change our lives and freedoms,” the reader said. “As a woman, I do not want our country to end up similar to a Taliban-run government, taking away rights and freedoms from women. Our country has come much too far for someone like Trump to set us back.”

‘Media Needs To Do Better’

Another Connecticut Patch reader giving Biden a vote of confidence said it’s “too late in the game for this discussion.”

“Back off of him; we need democracy,” the reader said.”The media and fellow colleagues need to stop asking him to step aside and become united for democracy. This election will force me to leave the country if Trump gets in. We need to unite under the umbrella of democracy.”

An Illinois Patch said calling for Biden to step aside is a “ridiculous” overreaction to a poor 90-minute debate performance.

“Suffering from a cold, he did not feel well and had trouble articulating his thoughts against the barrage of Gish galloping lies spewed by Trump,” the reader said. “Interestingly, though Biden answered every question he was asked, the media does not seem at all concerned with the more than 30 lies Trump told or the nonsensical things he said. The media needs to do better.”

A California Patch reader said it appears “the media is controlling the election” with lopsided coverage.

“One bad debate does not mean President Biden should drop out of the race. He had a bad night. How about focusing on Trump, who has had a bad 78 years?” the person said. “Let’s flood the news with all the stuff Biden has done and remind voters of all the bad stuff Trump has done and will do if he gets elected.”

“He only told the truth during the debate, while Trump, the criminal, told lie after lie,” another California Patch reader said. “The media circus has made this one debate a way to support Trump.”

News outlets need to balance their coverage, the reader said, and devote equal time to “the lies Trump tells and how he intends to be a doctor on Day 1 when he puts Project 2025 into action.”

“It’s too late to make a change. Trump would view this as a victory and inflate his ego to outrageous proportions,” a Pennsylvania Patch reader said.

“I find it interesting that just four months ago, Biden was praised for his State of the Union speech, but [some Democrats] now want him to drop out because he had one off night. I may not like how Republicans operate, but with all of the reasons they have to dump Trump, they stick by their man,” a New York Patch reader said.

“If Trump is allowed to win re-election, you can kiss this country goodbye, and as he’s been convicted more than once, he should be disqualified,” the person added.

“His performance at the debate was horrible. I don’t need convincing. I would vote for him or anyone running against Trump. But I fear that his debate performance drove away folks who are now not going to vote,” a Massachusetts Patch reader said. “It’s frustrating that the Biden administration and their surrogates are almost trying to gloss over this and not tell the whole truth.”

A Michigan Patch said it’s unfair to judge any candidate by a single media appearance. Instead, “Biden should be judged by his record of accomplishments as president,” the reader said, pointing out Americans are still taking the advice of businessman Warren Buffett, who is 93, and that U.S. presidents “do not make decisions alone.”

“President Ford was always caught on camera tripping. FDR, Wilson and Eisenhower all continued to serve as president despite illnesses,” the reader said. “I suppose they would have been canceled, too, had there been social media back then.”

A California Patch reader disagrees.

“He stumbles on his words and loses his train of thought. I don’t really care if he had a cold or jet lag. What if he was speaking to world leaders, what if we were facing a crisis?” the person said. “He has to perform top-notch even when he’s not feeling well, and he’s just not up to that. On top of that, he said he can't perform well in the evenings. What if the U.S. was attacked in the evening or the middle of the night?! He’s not fit to lead the country now, and it will only get worse over the next four years as he ages even more!”

‘This Isn’t About Policy Or Party’

A Florida Patch reader who favors a ticket headed by Harris and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said that despite his accomplishments, Biden should step aside for the good of the nation.

“Democracy is on the line in this election. America must defeat Trump!” the person said. “This is the most consequential election of our lifetimes. Democracy must stand. This isn’t about policy or party. It’s about staving off fascism/authoritarianism.”

A Maryland Patch reader said Biden and Harris should be replaced with a new ticket comprised of New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro or, as an alternative, former Vice President Al Gore for one term with Booker as his vice president.

“I feel like both Republicans and Democrats are failing in their duty to care for Americans — lack of gun control, lack of border control, drug deaths, prioritizing Ukraine over the U.S., (still) a lack of attention to the climate crisis,” the reader said. “We are reactive versus strategic. ... It’s really worrying. We need new thinking; fresh thinking, to invigorate the party, to work across the lines and drop identify politics, and we need it now.”

A Rhode Island Patch reader thinks Trump poses such an existential threat to the country that the goal of all Americans should be to defeat him.

“One only has to read Project 2025,” the person said, dismissing Trump’s claims he had nothing to do with drafting the conservative presidential transition document and noting “of the 34 authors, 25 were in his administration.”

“If Trump gets in, our country is gone. Our money, for those in the middle class, is gone,” an Ohio Patch reader said. “There will be no hope.”

A Maryland Patch reader said whether Biden has the mental acuity to serve another four years is moot. For many Americans, “perception is reality,” the reader said.

“President Biden has accomplished much but he now appears old, tired, and physically and mentally incapable of shouldering the burden of the presidency,” the reader said. “The only thing keeping Joe Biden in this race is Joe Biden’s ego. He should do the honorable thing and make way for someone who is capable of beating Donald Trump.

‘If democracy is to survive in the USA, the Democrats and independents need to come together, get to the polls, and vote for the Democratic candidate in such numbers that Trump and his followers will have no grounds for claiming that they have been cheated again,” the person said.

What About Trump’s Age?

Some readers pointed out that if age is a determing factor about a person’s qualifications to serve in government, Trump, at 78, should be disqualified, too.

“There are only a few years between Biden and Trump, so if Biden is too old, then Trump is as well,” said a Connecticut Patch reader who thinks Democrats should stay the course and keep Biden as their nominee.

After the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol as Biden’s victory was being certified, “Trump should not be on the ballot at all,” the reader said. “He should be in jail.”

“I would like to see someone younger and more vital,” a New Jersey Patch reader said. Still, whoever tops the ticket, “I’m voting for the Democrat over the convicted felon,” the person said, referencing Trump’s recent conviction in his hush money trial of 34 felony counts of falsified business records.

“I do worry about Trump as much as Biden,” a Maryland Patch reader said. “Trump is only three years younger, is a bully, nasty person who makes fun of any and everybody. He says dumb things and does not appear to recall what he has said. Dementia? He walks with his leg dragging. Something is not right.”

“He leads the best administration we have seen in a long time and we can trust our democracy will be intact after his second term,” an Illinois Patch reader said, adding, “Democrats and the media should take the gloves off and stop treating Trump’s behavior, felon convictions and policy as normal.”

“Why aren’t you asking whether we like a convicted felon running for office and who should be his replacement?” a Connecticut Patch reader challenged.

“I need someone who can effectively run this country and right now, neither candidate qualifies. Neither one has the mental capabilities or acuity, to get the job done,” a Pennsylvania Patch reader said.

“I’m a Democrat and won’t be voting for a president in November if Biden stays in,” the person said. “Find someone who is capable of running the country. I’m not voting for someone not qualified because of their mental capabilities, just to keep the other guy out. I want a leader who isn’t in it for himself but for the country, who can run our country 24/7.”

“What a breath of fresh air if both of these candidates pulled out and let some younger, more capable people run the country for a while,” said a New York Patch reader.

A Symptom Of Deeper Problems

Some readers said the question about Biden’s fitness for office reveals deeper flaws in a two-party system out of touch with the American people.

“Instead of working for the people, they are working for themselves,” said a California Patch reader who believes Democrats and Republicans share equal blame for the schism with voters. “Their interests are selfish and show total disrespect for the American people.”

The reader said leaders of the Democratic Party should have been vetting Biden’s 2024 replacement the day he won the presidency in 2020.

“Being reactionary instead of proactive shows the Democrats’ weakness, and Trump should not and never should have been the president,” the reader said. “I’m afraid of what might happen to the United States.”

“Both parties are an embarrassment — this is the best we have?” a New Hampshire Patch reader said. “This is what happens when the moneyed class controls government.”

An Illinois Patch reader who thinks Biden has served honorably for many years but should pass the baton to any one of several eligible younger candidates said age limits should be set for people running for public office.

“How did we get here? We should have other options,” the reader said. “Even my elementary kids complained that the candidates were too old.n It’s not about ageism, but really, 81 is way too old when we have sharper, well-education politicians who are up to the task.”

Both Biden and Trump should be required to take and release to the American public the results of cognitive tests administered by an independent physician, another Illinois Patch reader said, adding “Trump has had ramblings that are scary, too.”

“The two-party system is destroying our country. It’s always a case of choosing the lesser of two evils,” a Massachusetts Patch reader said. “This has been the case since I was first eligible to vote in 1980.

“While I think he should step aside, he should only do so if there is a candidate strong enough with the financial resources to beat Trump in the short time until the election. The risk is too great to chance,” the reader said, adding, “At this point, I don’t think there is anyone who can beat Trump.”

“Our options are terrible,” a California Patch reader said. “This is not a democracy when the vast majority of the population do not want either candidate to run. The two-party system is failing the populace.”

The deck is stacked against Green, Libertarian, independent and lesser-known third-party candidates who aren’t invited to debates, another California Patch reader said.

“Most of the country doesn’t know anything about them,” the reader said. “Perhaps if they got more media coverage, they would appeal to a wider audience.”

Trump Supporters Want Biden

A Wisconsin Patch reader thinks Biden should be replaced because “his presence has severely damaged our country,” but doesn’t see anyone on the Democratic bench to take his place.

“The old regime is too old, the younger ones are too radical,” the reader said. “As a lifelong Democrat, I’m voting Republican. Not for the man, but for the safety and direction of our country.”

Readers who want Biden to remain at the top of the ticket include some who plan to vote for Trump.

“It will be easier for Trump to win and Biden and his progressive handlers will all have to step aside in 2025,” a Massachusetts Patch reader said, adding, “Trump is the only candidate I will vote for.”

“As a Republican. I prefer he stays in, so Trump is sure to win,” a Minnesota Patch reader said, adding, “I have little confidence in the accuracy of the votes.”

If Biden Does Step Aside …

If Biden does relinquish his delegates at the convention in Chicago next month, Harris is the clear favorite to replace him among those who expressed a preference in our survey. Newsom, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former first lady Michelle Obama and Whitmer, respectively, rounded out the top five suggestions for possible Democratic presidential candidates.