A Joe Biden retirement could help defeat Donald Trump

To the Editor;

I think U.S. Rep. Jared Golden correctly suggests that former President Donald Trump is likely to win this fall’s election, but he’s missing one further thought: that President Joe Biden, by announcing his retirement at the right time — soon — could give the Democrats a huge opportunity, perhaps the chance to derail Trump’s candidacy altogether.

Fantasy? Hear me out. A well-timed, statesmanlike Biden announcement that he’s turning his candidacy over to the next generation could put a wet blanket over the upcoming Republican National Convention. A Biden announcement, late as it is, would free the Democrats to pick from their deep bench a worthy successor, putting their process on full display before, during and after their own convention.

It’s a tempting scenario with lots of moving parts, of course, but the possibilities are at least worth considering.

David Platt

Scarborough