NEW YORK, United States — Despite acknowledging the dismal performance by United States President Joe Biden in the June 27, 2024 debate against former President Donald Trump, as well as growing calls for him to step aside, most Jamaicans here seem to be ‘standing by their man’.

Raymond R Rhoden, a Florida-based retired adjunct professor, responded with an empathetic “No!” when asked if he feels the president should step down for someone else on grounds that he is in cognitive decline and can’t serve out another four-year term.

“President Biden did not do well in that debate but one stumble or the result of one debate will not change my mind about who is best suited to be in the Oval Office,” Rhoden told the Jamaica Observer.

The president has been facing mounting calls, including from within his own party and the editorial boards of some prestigious publications, to step down after seeming, at times, unable to complete his sentences and stumbling in his responses to questions from the moderators.

In a robust defence of the president, however, Professor Rhoden argued that “compared to Trump, President Biden has shown that he can govern. I see nothing redeemable about former President Trump, whose only interest is his wealth and the bluster he is associated with”.

For Dwight P Bailey, a former member of Jamaica Constabulary Force, “It is unthinkable to see how Republicans have rolled out the red carpet to embrace former President Donald Trump, a convicted felon, while Democrats are unwilling to stand up for the president.”

He agreed that Biden had “a terrible night” but pointed out that Trump’s disrespect for the truth and how he failed to respond to the questions posed to him, plus his many public statements about retribution and going after his opponents, should also be cause for concern.

Bailey added that he was scared of a second Trump term, as he cautioned those calling for Biden to be replaced that there might not be sufficient time for a new candidate to do what is necessary to defeat the Republican candidate.

Keith N Smellie, a co-founder and former president of Ex-Correctional Officers Association of Jamaica, said the president would still have his support and that he believed Biden went into the debate not feeling well.

Late last Tuesday Biden was reported as blaming his two back-to-back trips to Europe — where he attended D-Day commemorations in France and a summit of the Group of the 7 (G7) industrialised countries — as reasons for his poor performance.

Smellie noted that if the president has to step aside then all efforts must be made to find somebody who can defeat the former president, something he believes would be difficult at this time.

Current president of Ex-Correctional Officers Association of Jamaica Ronnie Hammick is among those standing by the president, telling the Observer that “his performance is not enough for me to withhold my support, especially when you compare his record and achievements and what he wants to do, to that of the former president”.

Juliet Mattadeen, a retired real estate broker from Florida, said she has long dreaded the thought of a second Trump term and believes that the chorus of calls for Biden to step aside will soon die down.

MATTADEEN… has long dreaded the thought of a second Trump term

Despite the president’s poor performance Westchester, New York resident Primrose Hanchard, a retired social worker, and Pennsylvania businessman Hugh Robinson are both still committed to supporting the Democratic leader.

Also standing firmly behind Biden is Rick Nugent, president of Jamaica Association of Maryland, who suggested that although the president had a bad night, “people should look at his record, his vision for the country, and compare it with those of his opponent who wants to behave as if he is a king”.

However, not all Jamaicans, who are famously pro-Democratic Party, want the president to remain in the contest. Leeford H Daley, a former correctional officer, and Winston Melbourne, a retired civil servant, are among the two needles in a haystack who could be found against Biden.

Daley’s view was that Biden’s performance in the debate was woeful and that there were signs that “his health is maybe not allowing him to function effectively”.

ROBINSON… still committed to supporting Biden

Acknowledging that replacing the president at this time would not be an easy task, he said “the Democratic Party could follow protocol and replace him with Vice-President Kamala Harris who is of Jamaican heritage”.

Making the case for Biden to withdraw from the race Melbourne said, “The president has given a superb job of service to this country over several years but I don’t think he is physically up to the challenge to continue”.

“Many of those calling for the president to step aside are not doing so because they don’t like him but are doing so in recognition of his tremendous contribution to the country, and his failing health,” said Melbourne.

Herold Prince, a Bronx resident who blasted Trump’s recent conviction on 34 felony charges, said he had no opinion on whether or not President Biden should leave the race.

University lecturer Dr Allan Cunningham noted that the debate was devoid of any clear plan from either man on what to expect for the future of the country. He said he found that to be very disappointing as the debate was more one of personality than of carefully articulated substance, as it should be.