Well, that was … better. But too late to turn back what’s coming.

Here, about 10 minutes after Joe Biden wrapped up the kind of live, unscripted display of cognitive competence hundreds of thousands to millions of people having been demanding for the last two weeks, it’s reassuring to know that at least one of the two choices we currently have for POTUS can dissect and illuminate serious foreign policy problems.

But, sad fact of life, that isn’t going to get enough people to the polls in November. If tonight’s Joe Biden had shown up in Atlanta two weeks ago we — and he — wouldn’t be where we are tonight. But he didn’t. And I’m pretty much convinced the die has been cast. Joe will have to go.

Over the past 14 days a couple things have happened for certain. A: At least 52 million people have been irrevocably reminded that Joe Biden is 81 and looks every minute of it. But also, B: Political pros and activists have gotten a taste — in polling and wishcasting — of the opportunity for something new, fresh and revitalizing.

Few things in life are fair and politics definitely isn’t one of them. Biden knows the gig. He has done his homework and far advanced beyond that into any master class of policy you can think of. And he has delivered.

But humans have a natural affinity for something new. They want to believe it’ll make them happier, safer, sexier, more popular and so on and on. And over the past couple weeks they’ve tested this idea of new in their minds.

As have political pros, pundits and Hollywood rainmakers. And what they are steadily coming to believe is what I quoted Obama campaign manager David Plouffe saying after the debate disaster. Namely, that given the cast of likely Biden replacements, including the much and unfairly maligned Kamala Harris, the appeal of something/someone new, is so strong , “they would win in a walk.”

“A walk” might be a bit too optimistic and giddy, but the broad disgust — and boredom — with Donald Trump’s act is as smothering as July humidity. It’s a point of national embarrassment that nine years on we’re still dealing with such an obnoxious, vulgar fool. Put anyone among Harris, Gretchen Whitmer, Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, Wes Moore, Josh Shapiro on top of the ticket and who doubts a shift of … hundreds of thousands to millions … of bored, indifferent, disinterested voters? Many if not most of them young, to a fresh face and style? A modern cut, if you will.

Biden looked fine tonight. He wasn’t babbling about sharks and electric boats and Hannibel Lecter and tourists getting raped at the Jefferson Memorial. As I say, he knows the gig. But he was never the best retail salesman. There’s not enough of the hamminess of Bill Clinton or the cool dude vibe of Barack Obama. Never has been. And whatever was there vanished on the night of the debate in the mind of the average persuadable American.

Too old.

Team Biden is being accused of “running out the clock.” I think the buzzer is about to sound.