Of course Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race. It was the best thing for the nation he loves, and he’s been serving his nation for over 50 years. He goes out on a high and that’s the only way to go.

Men find it very hard to give up power, but Biden has done what his narcissistic predecessor could never do—submit his pride and ambition to the national interest. We have rarely seen such a stark contrast between a thoroughly decent man and an utterly reprehensible one.

He is one of his country’s better presidents, the most productive since Lyndon Johnson. He has accomplished a very great deal in four years. Actually, more like two years—his string of legislative successes effectively ended when the Republicans won the House in 2022.

The measures he has steered through Congress include a $1.7 trillion Covid relief package, a $1 trillion program to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, and major investments to combat global warming and build up the nation’s semiconductor industry. He has lowered prescription drug costs for seniors and signed legislation to protect same-sex marriage against a revanchist Supreme Court.

He has done more to diversify federal courts than any other president including appointing the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. He has also been easily the best president on climate change. He made history when he became the first sitting president to walk a picket line, a true friend of blue collar workers who has presided over record job growth.

He has endorsed his vice-president, Kamala Harris, for the Democratic nomination (Trump tried to kill his). Harris is highly qualified having served as Attorney General of California and then as a U.S. senator for California prior to becoming vice president. And California is no minor jurisdiction—it is the largest state and the world’s fifth largest economy.

With a host of well-qualified potential candidates, the Democrats could have a vigorous competition for the nomination, but time is getting short. They may feel their best bet is to rally around the excellent candidate already in the race. Americans have been despondent over having their choice limited to two old men, two geezers, the oldest in history. Now they have a younger, vigorous woman to vote for—an answer, you might say, to their prayers.

Did Joe leave it too late? The Democrats have about a month until their national convention and about four months until the election. American election campaigns seem to go on for years, so this seems very short for the usual interminable affair. However scores of major Democratic politicians, including Senate Majority Leader Schumer and House Minority Leader Jeffries, have backed Harris, and funders are quickly following. Her newly-minted campaign has seen a massive $81 million surge in donations. She is off to a fast start. Add a boisterous convention and the Democrats should have no trouble putting together a strong campaign.

A former prosecutor versus a convicted felon—how appropriate.