Damon Lindelof, a co-creator of “Lost” and a notable Democratic Party supporter, called on fellow donors to withhold their money until President Biden ends his reelection bid, citing his struggles in the CNN debate against former President Trump last week.
“I’ve been asleep at the wheel and it’s time to wake the f--- up,” Lindelof wrote in an editorial for Deadline on Wednesday. “There is a choice before us and the choice is this — Do we leave our pitcher on the mound or do we go to the bullpen for relief?”
“Our president’s debate performance has been characterized in many ways; disappointing, upsetting, terrifying,” he continued. “But for me it was simply game-changing. So yes, let’s go with the bullpen please. Let’s go with relief.”
Lindelof joined a rising chorus of Democrats, including some lawmakers, who have called on Biden to end his campaign and let another candidate lift the party banner at its Chicago convention as nominee.
The prominent screenwriter called Biden a “good man and a great president,” but made clear that he thinks the 81-year-old is not what the country needs for another term.
Lindelof instead argued that Democratic donors can use their cash to send a powerful message to Biden and his campaign.
“The checks give us access to power and it is power that is needed to persuade our pitcher to come out of the game, because dammit, even four runs down with the bases loaded and no outs, he still feels like he’s got good stuff,” he wrote.
“Yet we’re just here in the stands. We can shout as much as we want, but the pitcher will ignore us despite our checks,” he continued. “Fortunately, he’s not the only one we’re writing them to.”
The “harsh economic sanctions,” as Lindelof described them, would prove to Biden and Democratic leaders that the president has long odds at a second term. When, or if, Biden does decide to step aside, Lindelof also promised a reward.
“But I’m ready to hear the walkout song for our closer,” he wrote. “And once I do, I’m going to double the size of the checks… I’m going to write so many damn checks my hand will cramp.”
Biden has rejected calls to step down, and has characterized his debate performance as a one-time flub.
Vice President Harris has been a top target of Democrats who have called on Biden to bow out of the presidential race, though she has backed Biden publicly.
A CNN poll Tuesday showed Trump now beating Biden nationwide by 6 points, 49 percent support to 43 percent. The same poll showed Trump leading Harris by a narrower margin, 47 percent support to 45 percent.
The poll also showed that 56 percent of Democratic voters and Democratic-leaning independent voters think their party would have a better chance of winning the White House with someone other than Biden. Only 43 percent of these voters said they think Biden is their best option.
Biden and Trump remain neck-and-neck in polling of the race, despite the concern from Democrats. Trump leads Biden by 0.6 percent nationally in The Hill/Decision Desk HQ average of polls.
