President Joe Biden Withdraws from 2024 Presidential Race
In a surprising announcement on Sunday, President Joe Biden revealed he will end his campaign for re-election, marking a sudden end to his long political career and shaking up the race for the White House just months before Election Day.
At 81, Biden faced mounting doubts about his age and his chances against Donald Trump.
He decided it was best for both his party and the country to step aside and focus on his current duties as President. Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
Biden expressed his gratitude for Harris’s partnership and endorsed her as the Democratic nominee in a heartfelt post.
“My first major decision as the nominee in 2020 was choosing Kamala Harris as my Vice President, and it’s been the best decision I’ve made. I fully support her as our party’s nominee this year,” he said.
His decision brings an end to a storied political career, which included four presidential runs, 36 years in the Senate, and eight years as Barack Obama’s vice president. Reactions have been swift.
California Governor Gavin Newsom praised Biden’s presidency, calling him a history-making leader. Meanwhile, Biden’s granddaughter expressed pride, and First Lady Jill Biden supported his statement.
On the Republican side, many criticized Biden’s move and suggested he should resign from office, especially after recent negative remarks about the Biden-Harris administration at the Republican National Convention.
Biden’s exit just before his party’s convention is unprecedented. The last sitting president to drop out of a re-election bid was Lyndon Johnson in 1968, but he did so months before the election.
Barbara Perry from the University of Virginia noted the situation is uncharted, with no president stepping down this close to the convention.
Harris is now the likely frontrunner to replace Biden, but her low approval ratings and the chaotic situation could lead to internal Democratic struggles.
Legal challenges might also arise as the party works to finalize a new nominee.
Opinion: Biden’s withdrawal seems like a strategic move to preserve his reputation amid growing concerns about his ability to win.
By stepping down now, he avoids further potential embarrassment and allows his party to regroup and focus on a candidate who might have a better shot in the election.