Watching President Joe Biden carefully navigate the steps leaving Air Force One, made me sad. At 81, he has what we all will face as we age which is more physical frailty.  At the debate, he demonstrated that he also has lost some mental acuity which, again, is nothing to be ashamed of, but rather a fact of growing older for so many of us.

As he prepares to leave the campaign which he should have never pursued, he has an opportunity to provide the American people something most politicians never do. He can admit he made a mistake and is rectifying it by withdrawing. He can point out that because he was proud of what he accomplished, he thought he could and should pursue a second term. He now knows he was wrong. Not about the success of his Presidency, but about what comes next for him and the country.

He has described Donald Trump as a threat to democracy. And I think he really believes that. What he has to acknowledge now is that he needs to withdraw so a better candidate can make the case that he believes in.

I hope he will do that quickly and hope that the Democratic Party will create a process for selecting a ticket and not be a coronation of Kamala Harris. She is the likely winner of a contest and would be a stronger candidate as a result. There is a “blitz primary” idea being circulated. It would be wonderful if President Biden were to endorse it as a way forward.

Hold on to your hats. It is going to be fascinating.