Biden drops out of presidential race, calls for votes for Kamala Harris

The president asked for a vote for Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement for the elections on November 5 / Photo: EFE

US President Joe Biden decided on Sunday to drop out of the re-election race in the interest of his party and the country, he said in a letter.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to be your President. And while my intention has been to seek re-election, I believe it is best for my party and for the country that I step down and concentrate solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” said the 81-year-old president.

Biden has thus given in to pressure from within his own party following his mediocre performance in the first debate of the race for the White House once morest former president and Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Dozens of legislators and senators had asked him in recent days to abandon the baton due to his advanced age.

The president, who is isolated at his home in Delaware recovering from Covid, said he would address the nation in the coming days to explain his decision.

“For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me re-elected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all of this work. And let me express my sincere thanks to the American people for the faith and trust they have placed in me,” Biden said.

Kamala Harris receives Biden’s endorsement for the presidency

The president asked for votes for Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement for the November 5 elections, through a message on social media X, a few minutes following announcing his withdrawal.

“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be our party’s nominee this year. Democrats: it’s time to unite and defeat Trump. Let’s do it,” the president said.

“My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all of my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My first decision as the party’s nominee in 2020 was to choose Kamala Harris as my vice president. And it has been the best and right decision I have ever made,” the president said.

The Democratic Party is thus facing the abyss of having to choose a candidate to face former President Donald Trump (2017-2021) in the presidential elections on November 5.

USA / EFE