WHILE the first response to Joe Biden’s performance at last night’s debate is a state of shock for Democrats, they should instead view it as an incredible opportunity.

In addition to being down in the polls prior to the debate, the Electoral College road was daunting for Biden to retain the Presidency in November. Of equal worry, any objective observer did not need a prompt from Fox News to know that Biden’s frailty issues were going to have a very bright light shown on them between now and Election Day.

It may actually have been better that it was exposed to the nation this early in the campaign. Had this occurred at the Democratic convention or in September when the first debate traditionally occurs, it would have been way too late to shuttle in a new candidate.

Now it is up to Joe (and Jill) Biden to decide. Do you want to go through the highly likely probability of losing the election and seeing Donald Trump become the next President? Or, do you want to go out with the utmost high regard and be viewed historically as the savior of democracy?

Think of it. If you step down, the first thing you get to do is anoint your successor. Not an easy task, but one that leaves you with a major say in how and by whom this country is run in the next four years. You get nothing if you lose outright in November, other than potentially watch the end of Democracy as you yourself have attested publicly. And, you will have been 100% responsible for that. The overwhelming majority of American voters do not believe you are up for the task to run this country and will not vote for you.

The second thing that will happen, is that you will be held in the absolute highest regard by so many Americans. That is a rare accomplishment, and probably almost definitely would not occur in the highly unlikely chance that you were elected in November. Your place in American, and world, history would be at the at the very top of the pantheon.

Of equal importance, you have the opportunity to have a tremendously positive impact on the people of this country, and this planet. Or maybe just not have a tremendously deleterious effect were you to lose (once again, that is now almost definitely going to happen). Those are the consequences we are now dealing with.

If the long term vanity of being considered one of the greatest Americans ever is not enough. Think of the short term accolades. First you get to deliver what is sure to be the most well accepted and gracious step-down speech ever. Second, there will be no greater round of applause, possibly ever, upon appearing at the convention for your endorsement speech of whomever you choose to nominate.

Finally, there will be the ultimate reward in November, when you see the defeat of your current opponent. Everyone will know that it is because of a decision that you were solely responsible for. Altering the course of America, the free world, and those who are not free today but…