Today’s New York Times devotes nearly a whole opinion page—with a title across the four columns—, to the urgent need for the Democratic Party leaders to speak the truth to the president: in a sentence, Mr. Biden should leave the race and make room for an open competition at the convention. He is not the best qualified candidate to run against Trump, in spite of the image he repeatedly projects.

The urgency comes from the danger presented by Donald Trump to democracy, to the country and to the world. Doubts have continued to mount regarding Mr. Biden‘s performance and capacities. The country is at great risk if Biden keeps insisting that he is the best and only person to challenge Trump. The polls tell another story: 74% of voters think that Mr. Biden is too old. As for the catastrophic debate, short interview to Stephanopoulos, and few scripted speeches, they feel to most people like a disaster continuing to happen in slow motion. On top of it, to have the White House blame mega-donors and the elite of the party may have soothed Biden’s ego but is failing because it does not serve the country at its moment of great need. It actually seemed borrowed from the Trumpian play-book.

Both Biden and the leadership of the party must cooperate to prevent a 1933-style Trump election. It begins by paying attention to the polls instead of fantasizing a Trumpian world in which one could still function. To repeat: the leaders of the Democratic Party must speak the plain truth to Mr. Biden instead of stalling. It has become clear that Mr. Biden is not only not willing to confront reality, but that he is counting on a sort of stalemate in which he is the nominee by default.

So, the only question is whether Biden can defeat Trump in November. To all appearances, the answer is no. But it turns out that this outcome is a fantastic opportunity to have the convention become once more a true moment of choice between outstanding alternatives. It is very likely that the country would become most excited by the race and this reborn display of democracy at work. It might even shrink Trump’s access to media dramatically. The danger is too grave for letting this critical election become a battle between two entrenched personalities and not be a competition between one reasonable vision of the nation’s future and a lying autocratic leader surrounded by paying sycophants. So, please, Mr. Biden, quit the race, release your delegates, and let your name be inscribed in history, not in shame.