In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he is withdrawing from the 2024 U.S. presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s new nominee. This decision reshapes the race for the White House, setting the stage for a historic election battle.
The 81-year-old Biden decided to step aside following weeks of pressure from within his party after a challenging debate performance, amid growing concerns about his health and capability to continue leading. “While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden stated.
Biden also expressed confidence in Harris, noting that choosing her as his Vice President in 2020 was one of his best decisions. He plans to address the nation later this week to discuss his decision in more detail.
The Democratic Party now faces the challenge of rallying around a new candidate for the upcoming November election, with Vice President Kamala Harris as the frontrunner. Biden’s withdrawal marks a historic first as no sitting U.S. president has previously exited an election race so late due to concerns over mental acuity and health.
The decision follows a tumultuous period, marked by a June debate performance that heightened concerns over Biden’s health. Despite efforts to reassure the public through interviews and press conferences, Biden’s gaffes, including mistakenly referring to Harris as “Vice President Trump,” intensified calls for his withdrawal.
A chorus of influential voices within the Democratic Party, from actor and donor George Clooney to former President Barack Obama, urged Biden to step down. The final decision came after Biden tested positive for COVID-19, which temporarily sidelined him from the campaign trail.
Biden’s withdrawal comes amid a tense election climate, with former President Donald Trump surviving an assassination attempt at a campaign rally on July 13. As Biden becomes one of the few U.S. presidents to voluntarily step down after one term, Democrats are hopeful that Harris can defeat Trump and prevent his return to the Oval Office.
Recent reports suggest the Biden campaign has quietly been surveying voter opinions to assess Harris’s competitiveness against Trump. Although Harris initially struggled to make a significant impact in her first years as Vice President, she has recently gained momentum on the campaign trail, particularly on issues like abortion rights.
Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor and the first woman, Black, and South Asian Vice President, is expected to be formally nominated at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19. This nomination will mark a significant and emotional moment for both Harris and Biden, who took office in January 2021, promising to restore unity to the nation.
Despite successes in areas such as COVID-19 recovery and international relations, Biden’s presidency has been marred by challenges, including the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and inflation concerns. Throughout his tenure, questions about his age and health persisted, compounded by public incidents that Republicans often highlighted.
As the 2024 election approaches, all eyes will be on Kamala Harris as she seeks to continue Biden’s legacy while forging her own path in a pivotal contest against Donald Trump.
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