It is pretty much agreed that President Biden’s disastrous June 27th debate was the proverbial pebble in the pond. The concentric circles it created continue to spread. But, the question remains, what will be the ultimate impact of his performance.
Conversely, will ex-president Donald Trump’s litany of debate lies, half-truths and failure to commit to accepting the results of the election should he lose impact his chances of returning to the Oval Office? There remain only 118 days until Election Day.
Beyond hard core supporters for each man, there are also growing camps coalescing and taking aim at both candidates saying neither man should be our next president.
Following the debate Aspen businessman and Democratic candidate for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, Adam Frisch, posted on YouTube a call for Biden to step aside and allow another candidate to run in November.
“We need a president that can unite America,” said Frisch. While acknowledging the recovery the President has led over his term, Frisch said the country “requires a new generation of leadership.” He also said Trump is unfit to lead. In addition to his YouTube calls for a new candidate, Frisch has shared his opinion on cable news channels as he campaigns across Colorado’s largest congressional district.
Frisch is running for Congress for the second time. He was narrowly defeated in 2021 by current CD3 Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. Just months ago, Boebert abandoned her run for reelection in the district and now now running for Congress in CD4, an area that covers most of the state’s eastern plains.
In Pueblo, once the bluest and surest voting bloc in Colorado, Frisch’s call for Biden to make way for another candidate is not surprising, said retired Chief Judge Dennis Maes. “We’re getting older,” said Maes. The complexion of Pueblo and CD3 is “changing.”
Once a solidly union town, buoyed by the CF&I, southern Colorado’s largest employer, Pueblo was a lock for Democrats. It voted blue in 2011 and helped reelect President Obama. But four years later, Trump won the city—narrowly, but still won. No longer blue but also not exactly red, Pueblo today is hueing decidedly purple.
Pueblo, said the retired jurist, is like a lot of American cities. “We’re getting older down here.” A lot of the children of traditional Pueblo and southern Colorado Democrats are stepping away from their parents and grandparents’ party. “It’s amazing how many of these younger folks are not following in their family’s’ footsteps and adopting the party.”
Maes, for whom the county courthouse is named, remains solidly in the Biden camp despite the debate pratfall. “I was very disappointed. It was very disheartening. But I had concerns about him before the debate,” he acknowledged. “But he’s still going to be the nominee.”
Speaking by phone following his morning walk, walks he takes “to beat the heat,” Maes said it would have been a far different debate had Biden simply debated as if “Trump wasn’t even in the room.” Biden, he said, let himself get “caught up with Trump’s bombastic style,” adding, the President just didn’t seem confident.
Frisch’s call for Biden to leave the race seems to be germinating with party leaders, including those in Congress. Even Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had scheduled a call for a rare weekend conference to create or discuss a ‘Plan B,’ in the event the President decides against running. As of press time Jeffries has solidified his support of Biden.
Weekend talk shows had a division of ‘talking head’ opinions on what the President should or would do. Some were direct in calling for new blood, others veiled their support with recitals of Biden’s accomplishments before offering what appeared to be soft endorsements.
Maes said Biden has more than a strong record to run on, including rescuing the economy post-COVID. According to Business Insider, a multi-national publication that reports on international economic issues, said the U.S. economy sits at the top of all G7 economies post-COVID.
The publication also said the U.S. “had the highest GDP growth since the start of the pandemic” and that there are no signs that the country is “heading toward a recession.”
Maes said these are the things that the President needs to stress as the country counts down to November 5th, Election Day. “I’ll support him, regardless,” said the judge. Beside his accomplishments in his presidency, Maes said, “The best thing he (Biden) has going for him is Trump.”
