Bob Schwartz

Nothing is certain in politics, until it is. It appears possible that Biden will insist on being the Democratic nominee for President. It appears possible that he will lose and Trump will become President again.

It is certain that if Biden loses, as defiant and stubborn as he seems now, it will psychically destroy him. While politicians are generally used to losing, and have to be resilient, the special circumstances here will defy resilience for him.

As much as he now says he would be okay as long as he did his best, he will know that he is responsible. Maybe he will convince himself, or supporters will claim, that none of the alternative candidates could have beaten Trump—an unprovable proposition. They may say that it was all the negative Democratic talk about Biden’s age and abilities that sabotaged his nomination.

But somewhere deep, in some moments of self-awareness, Biden will know that it could have been different. That had he gracefully stepped aside in early 2024, or in the summer of 2024 when his problems became more prominent, that the next generation of leading Democrats could have taken his place—and beaten Trump.

That fact would tarnish his legacy. It will be a lead, if not in the headline, of the historical record. Most of all, it will be a psychic wound that Biden will bear. And for a man whose public contribution has been so full, it will be a sad shame.

Why don’t his family and friends, why don’t his Democratic supporters who love him, think hard about that?

© 2024 by Bob Schwartz