Who is Biden’s Successor? This Red State Southern Governor (Part 3)
Meet Kentucky’s Andy Beshear, a moderate Democrat leading a solid conservative state…
Niccolo Machiavelli, the notable Italian statesman and philosopher of the late 1400s to early 1500s, famously said the following about politics:
“The end justifies the means.”
Fast forward to 2024. If the primary “end” for Democrats is to stop Donald Trump from winning the presidency again, then the “means” to strike him with a political death blow must be the major consideration.
And, right now, Trump beats Biden by 5-points head-to-head in the latest NBC News national poll. Biden’s personal approval rating is likewise troubling at under 40%.
Biden also gets his ass kicked by Trump on seven of nine major campaign issues, per the NBC News poll.
These key issues include the economy, crime, physical and mental fitness, competency and effectiveness, securing the border and controlling immigration, as well as improving America’s standing in the world.
Moreover, there’s a gaping enthusiasm divide between Biden and Trump among their core party’s base supporters.
Trump’s core voters are much more enthusiastic about their candidate compared to Biden supporters who mostly show fleeting enthusiasm.
Dream Candidate
The replacement for Biden must be a young and telegenic governor who is a devout family man from a traditionally red southern state.
That’s the dream candidate who can effectively win among right-leaning independents and crossover conservative voters nationwide.
That candidate is Democrat Governor Andy Beshear, 46-years old, of ruby red Kentucky.
First, this means Biden must gracefully suspend his reelection campaign now.
Replacing Biden with a more formidable candidate is the best way for Democrats to retain the White House.
Additionally, Beshear can help Democrats make gains in Congress for 2025 with a winning House majority to lead and pass much needed legislation on a host of pressing issues.
This is Part 3 of a series about the political reasons why Biden is not the best candidate to beat Trump and should drop out of the presidential race.
The most significant reason for Biden to quit ASAP is because he’s unelectable this time around, so say likely voters in national polling.
This includes former Biden supporters in critical battleground swing states which won him the election four years ago.
No, it’s not too late for Biden to step off the reelection stage, as I explained in Parts 1 and 2 of this series (below).
Underlying Factors
The first underlying factor of Biden’s weak re-electability is his historically dismal public approval ratings, in general, and on many leading public policy issues in particular — for which voters care about most.
The second underlying reason making Biden a weak candidate at this time is so-called “Biden fatigue” among voters, which is closely connected to his stubborn political problem of old age and fitness for office.
Biden is already the oldest U.S. president ever. And issues of age are at the center of a political volcano erupting all around him.
Biden and his reelection team, along with the Democratic National Committe, must face an unpleasant political reality: The majority of voters don’t want an octogenarian in the White House anymore, according to leading national public opinion surveys.
Biden has had a negative political metamorphosis from Uncle Joe to Grandpa Joe during his time as president.
And some new voters who are age 18 to 21 might even consider Biden as Great Grandpa Joe, a harsh and unflattering view by Gen Z — with whom Biden is also badly losing to Trump.
Yes, Trump is only a few years younger than Biden.
Nevertheless, most likely voters perceive Trump as having a higher level of physical and mental fitness for the job compared to Biden — who is losing by a devastating 23 points on this vital issue (NBC News poll).
This is the political fact of the matter, regardless of whether it’s true or false, fair or unfair, and warranted or unwarranted.
Perception is reality is politics, and the perception of voters is that it’s time for Biden to retire from the presidency.
Meet Gov. Andy Beshear
You have probably never heard of Democrat Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky. He’s a young politically attractive rising star in a deeply red conservative southern state.
Beshear is serving his second term as Kentucky’s governor after working as the state’s attorney general before that. He has significant governing experience, law experience, and a winning track record for a Democrat in a solid Republican state.
Gov. Beshear’s political talent and moderate ideology for a Democrat reminds me of President Bill Clinton — for whom I once worked.
Bill Clinton is only one of two Democrats who served in the presidency for two terms over the past half century. Will Joe Biden become the third?
It certainly looks more and more like a herculean task for Biden, whom voters perceive as a weak leader.
Gov. Beshear is the candidate that Democrats need now to retain the White House in 2025 by striking a political death blow to Trump.
Why Beshear?
In addition to his aforementioned political qualities, Beshear is the type of moderate fresh-faced leader Democrats need to attract younger voters opposed to Biden.
Moreover, Beshear has the political acumen and appeal needed to stymie Trump or a backup Republican contender.
Here are the five big reasons why Democrats should dump Biden and recruit Beshear:
- His crossover appeal to anti-Trump Republicans and moderate independent voters who will decide the election.
- His proven record of winning and leading in a right-wing conservative southern state.
- His appeal to religious conservative voters due to the status of both him and his wife as deacons of their church.
- He’s young, telegenic, articulate and intelligent, with a Kennedy-like (JFK) “Camelot” attractive family with young children.
- He’s had a strong public policy record of bi-partisan accomplishments as Kentucky’s governor.
What Else to Know
To reiterate these critically important points, Gov. Beshear has triumphed in a right-wing state which has sent conservative Republican leader Mitch McConnel to the Senate for decades.
This is an astounding political accomplishment for a Democrat governor in and of itself.
Here’s some more of what you should know about Gov. Beshear’s record of accomplishment in Kentucky (according to his website):
- “In his first term alone, he announced nearly $29 billion in private-sector investment — the largest amount secured by any Kentucky governor.”
- “The best two years on record for economic development occurred under Gov. Beshear’s leadership.”
- “He landed the two biggest electric vehicle battery plants on planet Earth, making the commonwealth the EV battery production capital of the United States.”
- “He has also secured record-high budget surpluses and record-low unemployment” and “has moved major infrastructure projects forward.”
- “He and state legislators have also made transformational investments, like the $500 million Cleaner Water Program.”
“Gov. Beshear has achieved things some people said would never be possible, like passing sports betting and legalizing medical cannabis.” — governor.ky.gov
Final Thoughts
It’s way past time for the Democratic Party leadership to face the hard truth: the majority of Americans do not want President Biden in the White House for a second term.
The public clearly has so-called “Biden fatigue” which is highlighted by perceived issues of old age and plummeting poll numbers against Trump.
Trump currently has his highest polling lead thus far over Biden and beats him badly on some leading public policy issues which voters care about most.
Democrats need new generational and transformational leadership now. There’s no more time to waste with nine months before Election Day.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has won elections and successfully governed as a moderate Democrat in a traditional conservative ruby red southern state, proving he has crossover appeal among Republican and independent voters.
This sounds like a sweet dream compared to today’s American nightmare of a deeply divided, tribalistic and toxic political climate and social culture. One with hate and political violence on the rise.
Democrats are currently taking a bigger risk on Biden’s reelection then they otherwise would with a younger and more formidable alternative — particularly a moderate southern governor from a conservate state.
Bottom line: Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky is the best Democrat to beat Trump.
*** What do YOU think? ***
Please share your valuable viewpoints below…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: I previously worked in the White House, Congress and federal government agencies. You can learn more about me here.