In the past century, three incumbent Presidents chose not to seek re-election during the election year

[Polybius]

In the years 1952, 1968, and 2024, Truman, LBJ, and Biden all decided not to seek re-election the same year as the election. Their Party experienced a loss in all three instances. The decision to refrain from running in the same year as the election appears to have been a significant factor contributing to these outcomes.

I have a great admiration for Biden; however, he withdrew from the race much later than he should have. In hindsight, the appropriate moment to announce his decision not to pursue re-election would have been in the first half of 2023 or even earlier.

[tritsofme]

1. Yes, in hindsight Biden should not have sought reelection. An competitive primary could have produced a much stronger

nominee.

Hard to believe a candidate like Whitmer would have seen the Blue Wall swept away as it did.

[Bettie]

2. The US won't elect a woman

ever. Let's be real here, misogyny is more powerful even than racism.

ETA: and we're unlikely to ever have another election.

[tritsofme]

3. Biden would have lost by a much larger margin than Harris did.

[bearsfootball516]

4. Misogyny may have played a role, but I don't know if it was the only role.

Remember that when Biden dropped out, he was polling 7-9 points behind Trump in all the swing states. Kamala vastly improved on that.

I'm more inclined to believe Biden's unpopularity dragged her down. Like it or not, his approval was in the upper 30s in most swing states, and voters mentally connected them because she's his VP. And I want to be clear, I think she was an OUTSTANDING candidate, and she did a hell of a job.

We'll never know, but it's possible that someone like Whitmer, Shapiro or someone else that's unassociated with the Biden White House, may have won.

[Bettie]

5. None of it matters now

we're done as a country. It's going to be really bad.

And we won't get another chance to have an election.

Just brace yourself for the dictatorship. First the mad king, then whatever the fuck Vance is.

[grobertj]

8. There's still a majority in favor of democracy

Many Trump voters simply believe he’s exaggerating. They believe it’s all an act:

[Polybius]

11. A lot of them are clueless

I saw one on TV who said she was a Democrat. When asked why she voted for Trump, she said "he's for the little guy" and how he "cares for regular people." I kid you not!

[roamer65]

9. The "United States" won't.

[grobertj]

6. Or Shapiro

[tritsofme]

7. Yes, he would have been a great option. We just weren't able to get our best on the field.

[Polybius]

10. That would likely have delivered PA

But would it have been enough?