“A new candidate to beat Trump” –

“Donald Trump is ahead, but we can still beat him if we present ourselves to the elections united with a new candidate”. The line was laid out in an interview with Repubblica by Leon Panetta, former head of the Pentagon and CIA in the Obama administration, chief of staff in Bill Clinton’s White House. For the Democrats, Panetta explains, “there are very real concerns regarding the future role of the United States. Trump’s approach in general has always been isolationist and anti-alliance. He said he was ready to dump Ukraine, but the problem is broader. He is giving up American leadership at a very dangerous time for global stability”.

According to Panetta, Trump is now “ahead, but we know that things can change very quickly in American politics. There are almost four months to go until the vote, and the question is whether Biden stays or steps aside. This is a very real possibility, given the very strong pressure from the party leadership. If we present ourselves united behind a new strong ticket, led by Vice President Harris, Michigan Governor Whitmer, or another Midwestern candidate, while Trump confirms his tendency to destroy himself with his own comments, the race might still be very close.”

So should Joe Biden withdraw? Panetta responds without too many frills: “There is no doubt that the leadership of the Party, from former President Obama to the leaders in Congress Schumer and Jeffries, are forcefully asking for it. My concern is to go to the elections divided, and the best way to unite us is to do it with a new candidate.” So the great pressure from the Democratic high spheres continues to convince the current president to step down. A possibility that he continues to deny publicly, even if there is a series of behind-the-scenes stories regarding what he says in private.