Biden doesn’t need to drop out. He just needs to release his delegates.

Then he needs to hold an online, “first-ballot” ranked-choice vote with as many candidates as want to enter, as long as they’ve been properly vetted (e.g., by previous campaigns.)

This is the only way Democrats can expand the presidential field without alienating huge segments of the party. And we believe that expanding the presidential field is the only way Democrats can win.

Here’s how it would work: The top five (let’s say) vote-getters of the opening round would go to a runoff election to be held on the second night of the convention. You could even have candidates like Liz Cheney and/or Al Sharpton – both of whom would be great on a debate stage.

Candidates would need to have sufficient history to have already been vetted (e.g., via previous campaigns) and voters would need to be registered Democrats at least since the 2020 presidential election. They would also need to be members “in good standing.” meaning that – wait for it – they’ve paid the newly-instituted yearly dues of $25.

If half the registered democrats enrolled, you’d raise over $500 million for the Party.

By using ranked choice, you could open the ballot to terrific candidates who could wipe the floor with Trump. (My personal faves are Roy Cooper from NC, Steve Bullock of Montana and Gretchen Whitmer, but that’s me.) Voters would be required to watch candidate profiles of at least five candidates before voting. The big thing here is that insofar as there’s no preferential treatment, losing candidates (e.g. Harris) could not claim they’ve been slighted in any way. Fair’s fair.

Since 2020, it’s been one man and one man only who has made all the decisions. That’s not very democratic. Biden should say that he’s aware of all this and has decided to show America what democracy really means by “letting the people decide.” And by staying in the race, Biden can also say that he’s stuck to his word about not dropping out.

(Biden must be the one who suggests this process, BTW. It needs to seem like it came from him, rather than from outside pressure.)

James Goodman (who stage managed the January 6 hearings) should also stage-manage the convention. In doing the January 6 hearings, he turned what could easily have been a god-awful mess of political grandstanding into compelling TV. If implemented, this process would be absolutely riveting and would capture the imagination of the American people. As America watches the Democratic Party transform before their eyes, the process would inject real energy into the race – enough to take the White House, House and perhaps even hold the Senate.

Democrats are acting as if Biden or Harris are their only choices. That’s not the case – not by a long shot. If either manage to win the White House, it will be by the narrowest of margins; and keeping the Senate would be no more than a pipe dream. Republican control of the Senate only prolongs the inevitable descent into autocracy. But if you’re reading this, you already know that.

The process we’re suggesting could result in the political clean sweep America needs. Big problems require big solutions – and this may well be our last chance.

Don’t blow it. Please.

Sincerely,

Billy James Cobin
bcobin@icrmedia.com
212-787-7767