In the details, US President Joe Biden said yesterday, Sunday, that he had ended his candidacy for the presidency, after failing to quell the Democratic rebellion against his candidacy following a disastrous performance in the June debate against former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party candidate, according to a message he posted on social media, crowning a political career that lasted five decades and represents one of the greatest political collapses in American history.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president,” Biden wrote in the one-page letter. “While I intend to run for re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and my country for me to step aside and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”
In a subsequent tweet, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the “top of the ticket” position. “Today, I want to offer my full support and endorsement to Kamala to be our party’s nominee this year,” Biden wrote on Twitter. “Democrats, it’s time to come together and defeat Trump. Let’s do this.”
Biden said he would speak to the nation later this week with more details about his decision.
Biden’s announcement came days after Republicans formally nominated Donald Trump to challenge Biden’s re-election bid, and after a series of pressures and demands from Democrats who publicly and privately urged the president to withdraw from the race.
A senior White House official said Biden notified members of his senior campaign and White House team shortly before the letter was released.
Biden told officials he had been thinking about it for the past few days.
The official said that the decision was taken closely.
Although the decision to withdraw seemed inevitable to some in Washington, the timing surprised many of the president’s donors and advisers.
John Morgan, a Florida lawyer and prominent Democratic donor, said he spoke with the president’s brother, James Biden, on Friday. When Morgan asked if Biden would step down, James Biden said, “No way.”
President Biden, 81, and his allies have sharply downplayed widespread concerns among Democratic lawmakers, donors and political advisers about his age, fitness for office and ability to win in November.
Biden and his team, including Harris, have been adamant that he will not step down after his debate performance in late June.
But Democratic efforts to oust Biden, though quieter in the immediate aftermath of Trump’s assassination attempt, have not stopped.
The move leaves Democrats scrambling to rally behind Harris, just months before Election Day.
It was not clear whether Democrats would choose their replacement during their convention or shortly before.
Other Democrats seen as contenders for the job include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
#Bidens #Withdrawal…Potential #Contenders #Democratic #Partys #Nomination #Presidential #Race
2024-07-24 01:22:01
