If Biden Doesn’t Run, Nominate …

To the Editor:

It pains me to agree with “To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Leave the Race” (editorial, June 30), but even more painful is the reality that President Biden may need to take matters one step further and resign the presidency right now, and allow Kamala Harris to run for president as an incumbent.

An advantage of a long primary season is the time afforded to coalesce around the eventual nominee. But Mr. Biden’s mere removal of himself from the campaign, presumably leaving the choice of a nominee to an open convention, would deny to the Democratic Party time to heal from being forced to choose among Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro or whomever.

Worse yet, underlying policy disputes within the party involving Israel, immigration and technology issues could cleave the party in more ways than can be imagined and lead to chaos at the convention. The danger of self-inflicted damage to the party cannot be ignored.

Four years ago, the Democratic Party determined that Kamala Harris would be a worthy successor to Mr. Biden. As president, she would bring energy and enthusiasm, which the 2024 campaign has been wholly lacking. By resigning now, Mr. Biden would permit the Democratic Party to unite under a candidate who can start at once on the essential task of defeating his predecessor.

Samuel E. Kramer
New York

To the Editor:

Now that The Times’s editorial board and others have openly called for Joe Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee for president, it’s time for us to start considering who might be the galvanizing candidate who can inspire the American electorate.

I would suggest Cory Booker as the only possible candidate of national stature who offers a fresh, inspiring energy and perspective.