These Voters Supported Biden in 2020. But Now …

Jeanne Winograd, 72, a Democrat in Phoenix, is such a ride-or-die fan of President Biden that, on Valentine’s Day, she mailed him a card to say his vigor, not his age, would shape the presidential election. But after a week of panic attacks after his dismal debate performance, she felt compelled to send him another card.

This one said: Thanks for everything, but it’s time to go.

“I just love Biden, but he’s frail,” Ms. Winograd said. “Pass the baton.”

As Mr. Biden and his allies have scrambled to fix the damage from the debate last week, and to insist he will not bow out of the race, dozens of Democratic voters have said they no longer believe he can accomplish the one thing they urgently want — a defeat of former President Donald J. Trump. They are desperate for the party to find a Plan B.

In 80 interviews at Independence Day parades, pie-eating contests and political events this holiday in the political battlegrounds of Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina, more than half of voters who had supported Mr. Biden in 2020 now said he should drop out of the race. About a quarter said he should stay in. The rest were unsure.

The turmoil engulfing the Democratic Party had left them sleep-deprived and divided about a path forward, with some saying it would be pragmatic to dump Mr. Biden and others arguing that he was Democrats’ best — or only? — option in November.

Several voters said Vice President Kamala Harris was the smartest replacement for Mr. Biden. But othersworried she could not match Mr. Trump and mentioned that the Democratic governors of Michigan or Pennsylvania might be a smarter choice. What about one of the Castro brothers from Texas, one voter suggested? Another asked, What about Michelle Obama?