CNN’s data analyst Harry Enten recently made a somber assessment of President Joe Biden’s electoral outlook in the wake of his widely criticized debate performance. Enten highlighted recent polls that mention significant concerns about Biden’s mental and cognitive health, noting a majority of Americans doubting his fitness for the presidency. He pointed to Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s call for Biden to withdraw from the race as a noteworthy development amid increasing scrutiny.
Discussing findings from a CNN poll, Enten noted that although Trump maintained a six-point lead over Biden post-debate, there were troubling indicators for Biden. These included a majority believing Democrats would perform better with a different candidate at the top of the ticket, as well as Biden’s approval rating hitting a new low of 36%.
Comparing current polling dynamics to four years ago, Enten observed that Biden’s standing against Trump has markedly weakened compared to Vice President Kamala Harris, who shows marginally better performance in hypothetical matchups. He stressed that while partisan support remains strong for both candidates, the battle for independent voters—crucial in past elections—currently leans towards Trump over Biden but favors Harris.
Enten speculated that given these polling trends and a prominent Democrat’s call for Biden’s withdrawal, pressure on Biden to step aside could escalate. He noted Harris’s relative appeal in the center of the electorate, despite her lower name recognition compared to Biden and Trump, suggesting she could potentially bolster Democratic prospects.
The nominating process for the Democratic Party needs to begin again. We need to recalibrate, and we need to do so quickly. Over the next two months we need to do what we should have been doing over the last year and a half: engaging in a robust conversation about this country and how we’re going to beat Donald Trump in November. Today I throw my hat in the ring. We need to have an exciting campaign and an open convention in August.
It is imperative that the new process not be manipulated by party and media elites. The search for a new candidate must be not directed by behind-the-scenes players, but rather must be a genuinely democratic process. All news outlets owe it to the public to fairly cover all FEC registered, qualified candidates going forward.
By the end of the primary season, I had received half a million votes. I traveled throughout the United States for over a year, gaining personal experience of ravages of both body and soul in communities throughout this country. And I did not just bear witness to the problems. I articulated solutions that speak to the minds and hearts of voters on the left, the right, and in the middle. I know how desperately people in this country want change.
With my candidacy, I submit to the people of the United States that a better way forward is both possible and necessary.
