Our July Voice of the Commonwealth Survey was on an exceptionally timely topic: Should Joe Biden drop out of the race for president? And if so, who should take his place?
Over 100 of our members responded to this month’s survey. Here’s the results.
Should Biden drop out of the race for president?
Obviously, you can read this multiple ways. Not quite a majority said he should stay in. Almost a third were a No. And another 20% were unsure.
So, you could say that 70.2% were “open” to him staying in. Or, you could say that almost half were not firmly supportive. Either way, it’s not an overwhelming vote of confidence.
Selected comments on question 1
If he drops out, the ensuing chaos would only hurt Democrats up and down the ballot.
He will never overcome the negative perception displayed during the terrible debate performance, and the subsequent ABC interview did nothing for him either. I do not think Kamala will win either – we need totally new faces to get behind – younger ones – to get the youth vote – we need to take action, change course and move fast.
The American public was clear about wanting a different candidate long before Biden announced his candidacy for a second term. ... It’s a sorry state of civic affairs in the USA, when more voters prefer an unhinged, openly autocratic, criminal candidate who is determined to destroy the country to an accomplished and knowledgeable politician like Joe Biden. But that is the reality of America in 2024. And the Democrats MUST win. ... America needs a different messenger, with all the risks that that strategy entails. Biden missed the opportunity a year ago to bow out gracefully and pass the torch to the younger generation. It is their world, not his. He looks like a selfish stubborn great grandfather who won’t surrender the car keys even though he’s sure to kill people the next time he drives. He has lost self-awareness and does not comprehend the reality that he no longer has the capability to do the most important job in the world. And because he did not do the prudent thing he has dealt a devastating blow to his legacy. It is a modern-day Greek tragedy.
Not just no but HELL no. Joe is fine. Joe is smart, and Joe surrounds himself with good, smart people and listens to them. Wtf is even wrong with you people asking such a thing, all you're doing is stirring shit and undermining the cause. Biden beat trump in 2020 and will do it again. Replacing him would throw the party into chaos. I am so mad.
This is INSANE! It seems almost like Trump's buddy Vlad is behind it. If Biden drops out, Trump wins. It's that simple.
Joe Biden was selected as the nominee by the primary vote. Even though delegates ultimately determine the candidate, it would set a dangerous precedent to replace him based on doubts fueled by the media.
Trump should drop out.
If Biden does drop out, who should replace him at the top of the ticket?
Unlike the first question, there was no doubt about this one. VP Kamala Harris was the overwhelming choice, with a host of others getting some 2nd-place love.
If Biden does drop out, who should be the VP on the ticket?
Not too much of a surprise here – Governor Beshear is the top choice of most of the survey participants, with Whitmer, Buttigieg, and Newsom in second place. Can you tell we’re based in Kentucky?
Closing comments
We ended the survey with an open-ended “Any final comments?” section. Here are some of what was shared.
Biden brings a lifetime of public servant experience at the highest levels. That institutional talent is rare and needed versus a sociopathic felon who is tricking folks into believing he will help them when he’s trying to keep himself out of prison and give his friends and family tax breaks. Focus on who’s for the U.S. and who’s for Russia. End of story, don’t need a replacement. We’re lucky to have to a guy like Biden. Let’s keep him.
This is tantamount to RBG not resigning from the Supreme Court when Obama could appoint her replacement; she was in her eighties and fighting cancer. She could have had a replacement of similar legal philosophy.
I cannot see how Dems could drop Biden and then skip over Harris. She has to be at the top of the list. But she would also energize the racist and sexist voters to move to Trump.
The journalists who are calling for Biden to drop out are idiots. He had a very bad night. He’s been tremendously successful in office – far more so than I had expected. If NYT & WAPO are successful in forcing him out, then Trump will win, Project 2025 will steam roll all of us, and the NYT and WAPO owners and employees will be sent to internment camps. Trump has long named them enemies and he has been planning his revenge tour since November 2020.
I do not want to even entertain this nonsense. Democrats need to concentrate on defeating Trump and winning this election. Fight like our democracy depends on us, because it does.
About the VotC survey
The Voice of the Commonwealth Survey is sent out once a month to Forward Kentucky members, both free and paid. It is open for a week to allow members to respond, then closed and the results published.
The next VotC Survey will be in early August. If you want to participate but aren’t yet a member, you can get a free membership by signing up here. We’d love to add your opinions to the mix!
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