President Joe Biden Drops Out of Election Battle, Endorses Kamala Harris

In a dramatic turn of events, US President Joe Biden has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and backed Vice-President Kamala Harris to be his successor. This has come as a surprise move that will alter the political field just months before the elections, with Donald Trump being the contender. Biden relayed in a candid letter that he had finally put service done by the Presidency ahead of service derived from re-election, hoping that it was for the best of the Democratic Party and the country.

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Biden’s Withdrawal From the Battle, Backs Kamala Harris

Biden shared the letter in a tweet, fully supporting Harris and even urged the Democrats to let their hands come together to defeat Trump. He told her that he had been impressed by the leadership and was sure that everyone knew he would win the Democratic nomination. Harris was grateful for Biden’s support and promised to unite the party, saying it was time to fight the agenda of Trump.

In the letter he wrote, “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term”. 

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The decision came after weeks of rising pressure from top Democratic leaders and donors who had lost confidence in his ability to win if he were to stay on the ticket. A new ABC News/Ipsos poll out this week showed 60 percent of Democrats believed Biden should drop out, while 76 percent wanted to see Harris as the nominee. Biden’s statement appeared to catch some by surprise, as senior staff and campaign officials were said to be out contacting state delegate holders in an effort to secure those delegates for him.

Trump’s Reaction To Biden’s Withdrawal

Trump responded on Truth Social and in a CNN interview by taking things in a somewhat different direction, saying that Biden wasn’t up to the task of being president and surreptitiously lamenting Harris being a much easier opponent. The nomination is not a sure thing for Harris, with no word yet on whether other Democrats will also make a challenge for the presidency. On Sunday evening, several high-profile Democrats who reportedly floated a presidential run came out to support Harris, including California Governor Gavin Newsom. Others who might join in the race are Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.

The Democratic National Committee, led by Jaime Harrison, has vowed to have an open process in the nomination of another candidate, and said, “undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward”. However, key party leaders, including former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, praised Biden’s presidency and the decision to step aside.

Praise From Party Leaders

Obama praised Biden’s patriotism and enormous service as the presidential head of state, saying that he had written to describe his decision as a tender to his commitment to the country. Obama described Harris’s tenacity, calling her “tender and formidable” before indicating that Democrats would once again embrace a performant candidate. He did not endorse her but said he was confident the party would make an excellent choice of nominee. Pelosi praised Biden’s leadership and legacy, citing his commitment to the nation. 

It marks the latest in a series of tumultuous events during the 2024 election cycle. The near-miss assassination attempt on Trump and the COVID-19 diagnosis of Biden are part of that political drama. With the Democratic National Convention weeks away, the party was tasked with picking a new ticket to square off against Trump and his running mate Senator JD Vance.

Harris, 59, is in a strong position and is a figure of prominence given her wide national recognition and deep support within the party. So, too, does her legal standing to hold on to the record-breaking fundraising haul of the Biden campaign. As the party works with all the details of this unprecedented move, Harris’s campaign seems ready to unite the Democrats for victory in November.