The US presidential elections are gradually approaching and Democrats have been calling for Joe Biden, their presidential candidate, to withdraw his nomination from the race just four months before US citizens take their vote to the polls to determine whether the country will be under the governance of the left-wing liberal Democrat, or right-wing, conservative Republic Donald Trump. 

The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece on Thursday discussing the use of media by Democrats to stage a coup, forcing Biden to drop his presidential bid.

The calls from media and Congress began after the president’s faltered performance at the first debate on June 27, deeming Biden unfit to continue his campaign, let alone assume office for an additional four years.

The withdrawal calls were halted for a few days due to the attempted assassination of former President Trump during his campaign rally in Pennsylvania, but now they are resuming as a result of the upcoming Milwaukee convention this week, where Republicans are expected to flaunt their unity. In addition, based on swing state surveys, the polls appear to be leaning toward the Republican candidate.

The media coup begins

The media has been a key contributor in promoting the call for Biden's withdrawal, reporting on conversations between the current president and several US politicians.

Biden said, according to Axios that he had "intense discussions with party leadership, elected officials, and grassroots members, and most importantly, with Democratic voters, over the past 10 days," acknowledging the concerns people have raised.

This week, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer reportedly visited President Biden, calling for his withdrawal from the presidential race, as revealed by ABC News on Thursday.

Schumer is believed to have spoken directly with Biden, strongly urging him to exit the race, while Jeffries is said to have later made a similar request.

Both politicians allegedly informed the president that he could cost the Democrats control of Congress. Neither man denied the claims. 

The press disclosed that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi conveyed a similar message to President Biden, while also revealing on Thursday alleged leaks regarding former President Barack Obama's concern over Biden's ability to beat Trump, insisting he reconsider his re-election.

Biden in denial, or will he drop the stubborn behaviour?

Despite calls from the media and his political colleagues informing the president he is most likely going to lose the election and ruin his legacy and reputation and warnings that his potential loss may reduce  Democrat seats in the House and Senate, Biden refuses to step down from his presidential campaign.

President Biden’s stubbornness may stem from the Democrats’ role in supporting his decision to run for another term, based on the assumption the candidate was able to secure the win. Regardless of Biden’s unwavering support from the party, Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips dared to run against Biden’s debility.

It is being speculated, however, that Biden may withdraw his candidacy in the near future, potentially this weekend.

Could Kamala Harris be a prospective candidate?

The president’s vice president, Kamala Harris, may be the prospective Democratic candidate should Biden decide to withdraw his nomination. However, the Wall Street Journal argued that Harris should run from her own volition rather than inherit the presidency if Biden resigns. 

It would be advantageous if Ms. Harris were to face competition from one or more potential candidates in either an open convention or a preliminary contest. Demonstrating whether she has improved compared to her candidacy in 2019.

Such uncertainty might result in the Democrats hesitating to favor a black woman. Regardless, Harris can outperform Biden in terms of the polls against Trump.

If Biden does decide to revoke his nomination, the presidential race may be more difficult for the Republicans to win due to excessive support from Democrats and the press for the potential candidate. However, in this case, Trump would not win by default, and if the Democrats lose, it would not be as a result of Biden's infirmity.