Media Tip Sheets

Electability Giveth and Electability Taketh Away

Sunday, July 21, 2024, By Ellen Mbuqe

Reporters looking for experts to discuss President Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 election, please see these comments from Syracuse University faculty.

Please contact Ellen James Mbuqe at ejmbuqe@syr.edu to arrange an interview with any of them.

Associate Professor of Political Science Christopher Faricy:

  • “A political party’s job is to win elections. Joe Biden became the nominee in 2020 because Democratic voters, Democratic officials and liberal activist groups thought he was the best candidate to beat Trump now they don’t – electability giveth and electability taketh away.”
  • “Democratic voters, not party elites, drove Biden’s exit. Polls showed it, constituents demanded it at townhalls, and representatives listened. Biden told voters this is the most important election of our lifetimes, voters believed him and acted like it in demanding a change – this wasn’t top-down – it was a grassroots revolt against Joe Biden.”
  • “Nancy Pelosi, Harold Jeffries, and Chuck Schumer coordinated this change because Biden’s presence at the top of the ticket was becoming too dangerous for down-ballot Democrats. Safe seats turned shaky, toss-ups tipped Republican – both House and Senate control were slipping away and making a Republican trifecta more likely.”
  • “Biden’s age issue was insurmountable. A majority of voters, including many Democrats, believe he’s too old for a second term. This perception can’t be fixed through campaign strategies or messaging and increased public appearances risk deepening that perception among voters. Democrats hope that Vice President Harris or another candidate can appeal to voters who dislike both major party options.”

Syracuse University Associate Professor of Communications Joshua Darr commented on the timing of the announcement:

  • “It certainly pushes back on some traditional press logic, but it makes sure the next week launches with a discussion entirely about Democrats – which is probably not what Republicans wanted after their week-long convention united around Trump. We’re in uncharted territory – I don’t think there is a “right” time to do something that monumental,” said Darr.